The Vatican responded in this official document to the tricky question of whether or not same-sex unions can receive the Church's blessing.
In its response, it says that “It is not licit to impart a blessing on relationships, or partnerships, even stable, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage (i.e., outside the indissoluble union of a man and a woman open in itself to the transmission of life).”
According to the document, blessing a same-sex couple could lead to the misunderstanding that the Church considers these unions valid.
The note is signed by Card. Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and by his second-in-command, Archbishop Giacomo Morandi.
They explain that the pope is aware of the response and that he agrees with its publication.
Pope Francis has always asked that the distinction be made between a gay person and a same-sex couple. That's why the text asks for other ways to demonstrate God's closeness to all people, and points out that a gay person can receive a blessing without recognizing his or her unions.
POPE FRANCIS
We must accompany people, like Jesus would. When this type of person comes before Jesus, He will never answer, 'Leave because you are a homosexual!' No.
To many, this response from the Vatican could be an indirect clarification of something the pope said that was taken out of context and presented to the world in October, in the documentary 'Francesco,' which made it seem as if the pope approved same-sex unions.
JMB
