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submitted 10 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it.

The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office, released Monday, elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage.

The new document repeats that rationale and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. And it stresses that blessings should not be conferred at the same time as a civil union, using set rituals or even with the clothing and gestures that belong in a wedding.

But it says requests for such blessings should not be denied full stop. It offers an extensive definition of the term “blessing” in Scripture to insist that people seeking a transcendent relationship with God and looking for his love and mercy should not be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” as a precondition for receiving it.

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[-] Sanctus@lemmy.world 81 points 10 months ago

"You can have our blessing but only during events that don't even resemble that thing you want to be more equivalent legally to hetero couples."

This just kind of seems disingenious. Like what is he saying? You either condone their marriages or you don't.

[-] rah@feddit.uk 3 points 10 months ago

more equivalent legally

This is a straw man. The pope's decision is about a religious issue, not a legal issue.

[-] Sanctus@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago

Except married couples get legal benefits that actually matter in reality that same-sex couples don't get. So its not a strawman. It is shit that actually happens to real people.

[-] rah@feddit.uk 0 points 10 months ago

Except married couples get legal benefits that actually matter in reality that same-sex couples don't get.

That's not the case in the UK.

So its not a strawman.

It's probably not the case where you live either.

[-] Izzgo@kbin.social 2 points 10 months ago

One clear legal benefit came up recently for me and my wife. She was in the hospital for several days. As her legal wife I was given certain medical information that would only go to next of kin. Before we got married we were not legal next of kin, and in fact that's the reason we got married.

[-] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Smart of you two to give in and marry. I was with my better half for years without the paper. It just got to difficult dealing with all stuff. Immigration, inheritance law, shared banking accounts. People know how to deal with married couples they don't know how to deal with couples that are married in all but name.

This is the woman I love. I don't need some fucking shaman or some government stooge to define or approve or be involved in our relationship.

[-] Izzgo@kbin.social 3 points 10 months ago

I fully agree with you, don't need anyone else defining my relationship. Neither government nor religion. 38 years ago she first asked me to marry her and I said no, I will never marry. We went back and forth on that issue over the decades, but as we enter old age, it just seemed wise.

[-] rah@feddit.uk 1 points 10 months ago

me and my wife

As her legal wife

we got married

You got married? In a religious ceremony in a Christian church? Or you had a civil ceremony and are now in a civil partnership?

[-] Izzgo@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago

In the US where I live, a civil ceremony is a legal marriage, and that's what we did, right at the courthouse. Previously we were in a domestic partnership, which required no ceremony just signing the papers, and gave us many of the legal rights of marriage. I'm not a Christian, nor a member of any major religion, so I would not avail myself of that type of religious ceremony anyway.

[-] killeronthecorner@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago
[-] rah@feddit.uk -1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Dafuq are you talking about? It's not the case in the UK. Quoting directly from the page you linked to:

You can benefit from Marriage Allowance if all the following apply:

you’re married or in a civil partnership

...

[-] killeronthecorner@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

That married couples do get legal benefits in the UK that unmarried couples don't?

[-] rah@feddit.uk -2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

You're wrong. As shown by the source you yourself gave.

[-] killeronthecorner@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Mm, no you just missed the point of it, but crack on I guess.

[-] rah@feddit.uk 0 points 10 months ago
[-] killeronthecorner@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

I respect your right to do so

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this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2023
277 points (96.3% liked)

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