Worcester Diocese responds to Pope Francis allowing blessings for same-sex couples

WORCESTER — On Monday, Pope Francis formally permitted priests to perform blessings for same-sex couples that stop short of blessing same-sex marriages or unions.

In a statement, Bishop Robert McManus of the Diocese of Worcester emphasized that Francis' ruling did not grant a power to impart a liturgical blessing to same-sex couples.

"Fiducia supplicans, issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and approved by Pope Francis, has reaffirmed that the Church does not have the power to impart a liturgical blessing on irregular or same-sex couples or to bless their union," McManus said. "It can, however, offer a type of blessing that can be conferred on anyone to invoke God’s help and mercy in their lives if the individuals seek to be guided by a greater understanding of God’s plan for love and truth. These blessings are offered for the people themselves, not their union."

The Diocese of Worcester's position on LGBTQ issues was the subject of controversy earlier this year when the diocese implemented a policy prohibiting Catholic school staff and students from using pronouns, clothing or gender-segregated facilities that do not align with their sex assigned at birth.

In response, St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury and Notre Dame Academy in Worcester informed the diocese that they would maintain their policies and not adopt the new one.

The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office reaffirmed previous statements that marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman, but also says requests for blessings from same-sex couples should not be denied as long as the blessing is not conferred at the same time as a civil union, using set rituals or with the clothing and gestures that are part of a wedding.

According to the document, a blessing offers a means for people to increase their trust in God, and those looking for his love and mercy should not be subject to "an exhaustive moral analysis" in order to receive it.

While the document does not fully allow the blessing of same-sex marriage, some LGBTQ advocates have praised the decision as a step toward greater acceptance of LGBTQ people in the church.

While the document might not be a major change in Catholic theology, College of the Holy Cross religious studies professor Mathew Schmalz said he views it as a notable pastoral move.

He said it is a meaningful step in reaching out to gay and lesbian Catholics and follows Francis' desire for the church to be more inclusive.

"It is a blessing given to individuals who are in situations that the church normally wouldn't approve of and would criticize," Schmalz said.

The blessing, as outlined in the document, connotes God's love for people in their complexity, Schmalz said.

"Pope Francis is saying that God wants you to know that he's there with you in the specificity and the complexity of your life," Schmalz said. "There are ways in which he is now giving priests the flexibility to deal with their own parishioners in ways that help their spiritual growth."

In recent months, Pope Francis appears to be "speeding up" in his reforms as his pontificate appears to be nearing its conclusion, Schmalz said. The Holy Cross professor also brought up Pope Francis creating more spaces for women in administrative roles in the church.

"What Pope Francis has consistently emphasized is that the Catholic Church needs to be a welcoming place for everyone, absolutely everyone," Schmalz said.

While Pope Francis may not be making major theological changes, Schmalz said the pope is creating a series of practices that would be difficult for a successor to reverse.

Schmalz said he is particularly interested in seeing how African bishops, some of whom have supported bills criminalizing homosexuality, react to the document.

Schmalz said that while those Catholics who dissented to Pope Francis' reform in the U.S. are a minority, he expected well-funded pressure groups to step up their criticism of Francis in the U.S.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Diocese responds to Pope Francis on same sex blessings