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Pope Francis will soon deliver his apostolic-exhortation (or report) on issues which affect the Catholic church, including action on climate change.
The pope will give his views and decisions on the issues discussed accross a two-year consultation, on issues that often appear to dominate reporting on the Catholic Church; e.g. the role of women, and whether they will ever be ordained as priests (the Pope says "no"). But the Pope suggests Catholic Church could bless same-sex couples.
The pope also discussed topics of concern which traditionally dominate Catholic social teaching, such as alleviating poverty, and increasingly, climate change.
The Pope suggested the Catholic Church could bless same-sex unions, after five cardinals challenged him to affirm church teaching on homosexuality ahead of a meeting about LGBTQ+ Catholics.
The Vatican published a letter that Francis wrote to five cardinals on July 11 who challenged him to affirm church teaching on homosexuality ahead of a meeting about LGBTQ+ Catholics.
The letter suggests blessings could be used if they were not confused with sacramental marriage.
The Vatican has long opposed gay marriage, but Pope Francis has previously voiced support for civil laws to help same-sex spouses.
Francis said priests cannot become judges “who only deny, reject and exclude”.
He added that blessing gay unions should not become an official rule but should be decided case by case.
Catholic priests in northern European countries have for years blessed same-sex couples, in defiance of the Vatican ban.
The Pope said blessings should apply even in situations “that from an objective point of view aren’t morally acceptable”.
The Pope’s shift on gay unions comes before a key synod of bishops, which starts this week at the Vatican and will tackle contentious issues including homosexuality, the introduction of female deacons and married priests.
The Catholic Church officially considers homosexual sex “intrinsically disordered” and the Pope has long opposed gay marriage, maintaining that wedlock can be only between a man and woman (source, The Evening Standard).
Francis has supported same-sex civil unions, however, arguing that gay couples need legal rights, and told a gay man in 2018: “God made you that way and loves you as you are.”
Despite his stance, the Vatican’s doctrinal department said in 2021 that the church could not bless gay unions because “God cannot bless sin”.
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We have been following this story for more than two years, especially with regard to the Catholic churches concerns on CLIMATE CHANGE. We can therefore offer the following archives to bring you speedily up to date.
Pope Francis launches consultation on Church reform
Much of the reporting of this two-year consultation will focus on some of the issues that often appear to dominate reporting on the Catholic Church: the role of women for example, and whether they will ever be ordained as priests (the Pope says "no").
While those topics are often of concern to some Catholics, other areas which traditionally dominate Catholic social teaching, such as alleviating poverty, and increasingly, climate change,
Pope Francis will 'give' the results of the (climate change) consultation by writing an 'apostolic exhoration'.
The consultation process, called "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission", will work in three stages:
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In the "listening phase", people in parishes and dioceses will be able to discuss a wide range of issues. Pope Francis said it was important to hear from those who were often on the fringes of local Church life such as women, pastoral workers and members of consultative bodies
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The "continental phase" will see bishops gather to discuss and formalise their findings.
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The "universal phase" will see a month-long gathering of the bishops a the Vatican in October 2023
The Pope is expected then to write an apostolic exhortation (including on climate change), giving his views and decisions on the issues discussed.
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