Blessing for all? Also for remarried divorcees and homosexuals? A new paper from the Catholic Church in Germany is causing controversy. Critics believe it oversteps the mark and want to lodge a complaint.
A group of conservative Catholics is criticising new rules in Germany according to which homosexuals can also be blessed in church as well as people who remarry in a civil ceremony after a divorce. In a statement published in Neuss on Thursday, the “New Beginning” initiative said: “We are lodging an objection with the German Bishops’ Conference and the relevant authorities in Rome and are demanding the immediate withdrawal of this paper.”
On Wednesday, the German Bishops’ Conference and the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) published a new handout for pastoral counsellors. According to the document, it is an offer for “divorced and remarried couples, couples of all gender identities and sexual orientations as well as couples who do not want to or cannot receive the sacrament of marriage for other reasons”.
Crossing the line?
In the view of critics, the document oversteps a boundary in canon law. Although the document describes itself as “non-binding”, it is in fact aimed at legitimising a controversial practice with episcopal approval, according to the statement.
The Vatican makes a clear distinction between a spontaneous everyday blessing and a liturgical act of blessing. The latter is still linked to certain conditions. Remarried or homosexual couples are excluded from this. According to the group, this clear regulation means that additional handouts for blessings are not necessary.
Result of the German reform path
The Bishops’ Conference and the ZdK described the handout as the result of the synodal path, i.e. the reform dialogue of the Catholic Church in Germany. According to those responsible, the recent Vatican opening to the blessing of homosexual partnerships was also taken into account. The guide follows the approach of Pope Francis, which is orientated towards pastoral care.
The “Out in church” initiative had also criticised the paper, albeit as too timid and not far-reaching enough. In their view, a binding textbook for the liturgical organisation of blessings is missing. However, this had been expressly requested in the Synodal Path. However, gay and lesbian couples, for example, continue to be discriminated against: “Even if a blessing is made possible in principle, it remains a second-class blessing.”
As part of the “Out in church” initiative, around 125 employees and members of the Catholic Church publicly came out as queer, i.e. homosexual or transgender, in January 2022.
