For hundreds of years, Catholics have argued the Bible defines marriage as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman. However, in recent years, times have changed and many are becoming more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community.
Although the Catholic Church has not been receptive to gay marriage throughout history, Pope Francis recently offered the gay community a reason to be hopeful. The pope suggested that the Catholic Church may be open to blessing same-sex unions, which would be a major step in the right direction.
A Win for Same-Sex Couples
Prior to a meeting about LGBTQ+ Catholics, five conservative cardinals asked Pope Francis to “affirm church teaching on homosexuality”.
Now, the Vatican has published a letter from Pope Francis addressing the conservative cardinals. In the letter, he signaled that same-sex blessings could be practiced so long as they weren’t confused with “sacramental marriage.”
Progressive Catholics Celebrate
The Pope’s letter is said to “significantly advance” efforts to welcome LGBTQ+ Catholics into the church without judgment.
New Ways Ministry, an organization advocating LGBTQ+ support within the church, celebrated the pope’s unexpected change of heart. They have described it as “one big straw towards breaking the camel’s back” toward gay people becoming more accepted in the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church Moves Away From Regressive Past
Despite the Catholic Church’s longstanding opposition to gay marriage, Pope Francis has been vocal about his support for civil laws offering legal benefits to same-sex couples.
Additionally, Catholic priests in certain parts of Europe have been blessing same-sex unions without the Vatican’s stamp of approval. Pope Francis’ ground-breaking new stance could usher in a new age of progress for the Catholic Church.
A History of Opposition to Same-Sex Unions
Traditionally, the church has never been accepting of homosexuality. In 2021, the Catholic Church’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated that the church could not bless same-sex unions because “God cannot bless sin.”
Many opponents of same-sex rights have pointed to Leviticus 18:22 as evidence the Bible condemns homosexuality. That verse has been quoted as describing same-sex relationships as an “abomination”. However, many scholars now think this represents a misinterpretation of the original Hebrew passage.
Pope’s Comments Could Open The Door To A More Accepting Church
The pope’s message sparked progressive hopes worldwide. Pope Francis even suggested that the Catholic Church’s views are antiquated and that people across the globe are generally supportive of same-sex couples.
Pope Francis told Catholic bishops to listen to the “1.4 billion Catholics all over the planet,” and said that the church needed to rebuild to welcome “everyone, everyone, everyone.”
Who Are The Conservative Cardinals Who The Pope Addressed?
The five conservative cardinals that Pope Francis addressed in his letter come from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
The conservative cardinals urged Pope Francis to “affirm church teaching on gays”. They are Walter Brandmüller of Germany, Raymond Burke of the United States, Juan Sandoval of Mexico, Robert Sarah of Guinea, and Joseph Zen of Hong Kong.
Pope’s Comments Divide Opinions Within The Church
Jamie Manson, a devout Catholic and equality activist said, “Affirming and embracing everyone only makes the church stronger.” She added, “it is a very slim minority of Catholics who are opposed to same-sex unions.”
However, Father Gerald Murray of Manhattan disagreed. He said, “For the pope to say that priests and bishops can find a way to do this, it’s wrong. He shouldn’t do it… The harm is that it contradicts Catholic teaching.”
LGBTQ+ Catholics Hope The Church Will Follow God’s Message of Love
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, welcomed the Pope’s new accepting tone.
“The allowance for pastoral ministers to bless same-gender couples implies that the church does indeed recognize that holy love can exist between same-gender couples, and the love of these couples mirrors the love of God,” he said. “Those recognitions, while not completely what LGBTQ+ Catholics would want, are an enormous advance towards fuller and more comprehensive equality.”
It’s Never Too Late To Support Progress
In his letter, Pope Francis wrote, “Pastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of benediction, requested by one or more persons, that do not transmit a mistaken conception of marriage.”
At 86 years old, the head of the Catholic Church has proven that anyone is capable of changing their views. Francis says “the life of the church runs on channels beyond norms.”
