Can A Shepherd Change His Spots?

Wow, just wow!

I never thought that I would see this…

Pope Francis Allows Priests to Bless Same-Sex Relationships
A church official said the blessings amounted to “a real development” that nevertheless did not amend “the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage.”
The New York Times
Jason Horowitz
By Jason Horowitz
December 18, 2023

Pope Francis has taken one of the most concrete steps in his efforts to make the Roman Catholic Church more welcoming to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics by allowing priests to bless couples in same-sex relationships, the Vatican announced on Monday.

Priests have long blessed a wide variety of people, offering a prayer asking for God’s help and presence. The Vatican had long said it could not bless same-sex couples because it would undermine church doctrine that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

The new rule was issued in a declaration by the church’s office on doctrine and introduced by its prefect, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who said that the declaration did not amend “the traditional doctrine of the church about marriage,” because it allowed no liturgical rite that could be confused with the sacrament of marriage.

“It is precisely in this context,” Cardinal Fernández wrote, “that one can understand the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage.”

Notice one thing though… he doesn’t say “marry” just bless a wedding!

But still this is a mega step forward!

“This new declaration opens the door to nonliturgical blessings for same-sex couples, something that had been previously off-limits for bishops, priests and deacons,” said the Rev. James Martin, a prominent advocate for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics. “Along with many priests, I will now be delighted to bless my friends in same-sex unions.”

And remember last month, this from Reuters…

Last week, the Vatican's doctrinal office issued a statement saying transgender people can be godparents at Roman Catholic baptisms, witnesses at religious weddings and receive baptism themselves.

LGBT rights advocates in the church welcomed the move while conservatives condemned it, accusing Francis of sending confusing signals about sexual morality to the faithful.

The Pope also had lunch with trans people in November and he also removed a Texas Bishop. Texas Standard wrote,

Pope Francis fired a Texas bishop over the weekend, a rare move that some say highlights the growing divide between the Vatican and more conservative factions of the Catholic Church.

Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler publicly clashed with the pope over social and theological issues. He even went so far as to say that Pope Francis was undermining the Catholic faith on social media last summer.

The Vatican did not give a reason publicly for Bishop Strickland’s removal, but it came following a formal investigation into his leadership.

[…]

Bishop Strickland is probably the most outspoken American example of a wing of the church that sees Francis as really dangerously liberal on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. Just last week, the pope clarified that trans Catholics can serve as godparents and receive the sacrament of baptism in certain circumstances. Things like that are really troublesome to some more conservative Catholics.

I remember growing up and in Catechism class we learned that the Pope leads the Catholic Church has full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the universal church in matters of faith and morals but now a days the Pope’s authority is being questioned… will we see a split in the Catholic Church? Is he going too far for the conservative Bishops and Cardinals? Like what happened in 1978 to Pope John Paul I when he was leading the church to the left?

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Update: 12/19/23 @ 2 AM

There is growing pushback to the Pope...

American Catholics Split on Pope’s Blessing for Gay Couples

Some conservatives registered disappointment, but gay Catholics hailed the new rule as a landmark moment for the church’s acceptance of L.G.B.T.Q. faithful.

New York Times

By Ruth Graham and Amy Harmon

December 18, 2023

Pope Francis announced on Monday that he would allow priests to bless same-sex couples, a shift that angered some conservatives but was celebrated by those who said that the decision was a substantial step in moving the church toward greater acceptance of L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics.

“It really is a landmark and milestone in the church’s relationship with L.G.B.T.Q. people that can’t be overestimated or overstated,” Francis DeBernardo, the executive director of New Ways Ministry, a Maryland group that has advocated on behalf of gay Catholics since the 1970s, said. “This declaration is proof that church teaching can — and does — change.”

Conservative Catholics in the United States, many of whom are deeply skeptical of Francis’ leadership, were disappointed. Some reacted with anger and others with a sense of resignation.

Will this cause a schism in the Catholic church like what happened with the United Methodist Church?