ILOILO City – Priests under the Archdiocese of Jaro may now bless same-sex couples. In a significant advance for LGBTQ+ (lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, etc.) people in the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has allowed priests to do this.
“Who are we to deprive them?” said Reverend Father Angelo Colada, director of the archdiocese’s Social Communication Office.
Priests have traditionally blessed individuals seeking spiritual guidance, including various blessings for different life situations, Colada explained.
But he clarified that the blessing is not the same as approving same-sex union or marriage.
“The Church firmly opposes same-sex marriage. However, those in ‘irregular situations’ – not just those in the LGBTQ+ community but also those men and women living together without the benefit of marriage – they, too, seek blessings. Who are we to deprive them that?” Colada explained to Panay News.
“Irregular situations” by the Church’s definition refer to cohabitating relationships, non-sacramental civil marriages, divorced and remarried unions, polygamous bonds, and same-sex unions.
Colada clarified that if the purpose of seeking blessings is to ask for forgiveness, change their lives, or live closer to God, the Church should not oppose it.
He also reminded the public that it is God who grants blessings, with parish priests merely serving as instruments.
The decision to grant blessings lies within the parish priest’s discretion, provided they are not part of regular church rituals or liturgies, nor given in contexts related to civil unions or weddings, according to Colada, and he emphasized the importance of using appropriate words when imparting blessings.
He further noted that churches, particularly in the Philippines, are inclusive and do not discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community, with many from the community actively participating in church activities.
Colada urged Catholic devotees to read the entire document on blessing same-sex couples approved by Pope Francis to fully understand its purpose.
The document aims not to divide people but to unite and be open to all seeking closeness to God, he stressed.
The Vatican document clarified that such blessings do not legitimize “irregular situations” but signify God’s welcoming nature. It permits blessings for couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples, provided they are not in conjunction with civil union ceremonies.
Priests should decide on a case-by-case basis, offering closeness to those seeking God’s help through blessings.
The document, elaborating on a previous letter from Pope Francis, reiterates that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman only, but blessings should not be outright denied.
It emphasizes that blessings are a means for people to increase their trust in God and should not require an exhaustive moral analysis as a precondition.
The request for a blessing should be viewed as an expression of openness to God’s transcendence, mercy, and love, according to the Vatican.
Yesterday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines released an advisory endorsing the Vatican document./PN
