By Lavoisier Fernandes.
The Holy Father has been in the headlines again after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith (DDF) published a declaration “Fiducia Supplicans-On the pastoral Meaning of Blessings”. As usual sensationalized secular media including some Catholic outlets and sadly some celebrity Catholic priests have twisted and concocted news suggesting otherwise that the Holy Father has opened the gates for blessings same sex unions, whilst the document clearly states it’s the “individuals” in the unions who can seek a blessing and it was not the blessing of the union.
In October of this year I had written a piece here for ICM- “What exactly is a Blessing” highlighting the different types of blessings in the Church on the back of the Dubium questions news when it made headlines. In his response to the dubium, the pope said that “the Church avoids any kind of rite or sacramental that could contradict” its doctrine regarding marriage, or “give the impression that something that is not marriage is recognized.” But he also urged for pastoral discernment in offering blessings “requested by one or more persons, that do not transmit a mistaken conception of marriage. Because when a blessing is requested, one is expressing a request for help from God, a plea to be able to live better, a trust in a Father who can help us to live better.”
The Dicastery on the Doctrine of Faith (DDF), thanks to its new prefect Víctor Manuel Card. Fernández, decided to elaborate and give more clarity on this subject of Gay Blessings as this was being wrongly misinterpreted to suit a different narrative that was not in conjunction with the Church’s teaching on marriage by a few Bishops in Germany and Belgium.
The key themes in this declaration are marriage is between man and woman, blessing of the individuals and not the union of same sex, types of blessings and pastoral prudence. This is a fantastic declaration that puts to rest any misinterpretations, confusion caused on this sensitive subject whilst providing in depth guidelines for priests and serves as a good Catechesis about blessings in the Church for laity. I would recommend reading the document in totality and making up your own minds.
However, let us try and declutter this declaration.
- Why was this Document written?
It was a follow up from the Holy Father’s response to the Dubia of Cardinals. (FS 3) – “The declaration remains firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage not allowing any type of liturgical rite or blessing similar to a liturgical rite that can create confusion. The value of this document, however, is that it offers a specific and innovative contribution to the pastoral meaning of blessings, permitting a broadening and enrichment of the classical understanding of blessings, which is closely linked to a liturgical perspective.”
- Is the declaration Fiducia Supplicans the authoritative teaching of the Magisterium?
Yes, it is. The Magisterium teaches authoritatively, as Catholics we must have a humble disposition and the docility towards these authoritative teachings of the Magisterium exercises this role of teaching the faithful on the authority of Jesus Christ, the Founder of the Church, who gave this authority to Peter, the first Pope, and to the Apostles, whose successors are the bishops. (FS 3)- “Such theological reflection, based on the pastoral vision of Pope Francis, implies a real development from what has been said about blessings in the Magisterium and the official texts of the Church”.
- What is the Blessing in the Sacrament of Marriage?
(FS 4&6)– “It is a matter of avoiding that “something that is not marriage is being recognized as marriage.” Therefore, rites and prayers that could create confusion between what constitutes marriage—which is the “exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children” and what contradicts it are inadmissible. This conviction is grounded in the perennial Catholic doctrine of marriage; it is only in this context that sexual relations find their natural, proper, and fully human meaning. The Church’s doctrine on this point remains firm. It should be emphasized that in the Rite of the Sacrament of Marriage, this concerns not just any blessing, but a gesture reserved to the ordained minister. In this case, the blessing given by the ordained minister is tied directly to the specific union of a man and a woman, who establish an exclusive and indissoluble covenant by their consent. This fact allows us to highlight the risk of confusing a blessing given to any other union with the Rite that is proper to the Sacrament of Marriage.”
- Does the Church have the power to impart blessings on union of person of the same sex.
No, the Church does not have the power. One needs to distinguish between union and “individuals” in the same sex union. (FS 5) – This is also the understanding of marriage that is offered by the Gospel. For this reason, when it comes to blessings, the Church has the right and the duty to avoid any rite that might contradict this conviction or lead to confusion. Such is also the meaning of the Responsum of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which states that the Church does not have the power to impart blessings on unions of persons of the same sex.
- What blessings is the declaration talking about if not of union of persons of the same sex?
A blessing for “individuals” in need of grace-Not of the Unions OR of couples in Irregular situations. (FS 20) – “One who asks for a blessing show himself to be in need of God’s saving presence in his life and one who asks for a blessing from the Church recognizes the latter as a sacrament of the salvation that God offers. To seek a blessing in the Church is to acknowledge that the life of the Church springs from the womb of God’s mercy and helps us to move forward, to live better, and to respond to the Lord’s will.” (FS 40) Through these blessings that are given not through the ritual forms proper to the liturgy but as an expression of the Church’s maternal heart[,] … there is no intention to legitimize anything, but rather to open one’s life to God, to ask for his help to live better, and also to invoke the Holy Spirit so that the values of the Gospel may be lived with greater faithfulness.
- The Declaration confirms that homosexual actions are sins and homosexual acts cannot be blessed, but sinners can be blessed and the need of pastoral prudence.
(FS 38)- “One should not prevent or prohibit the Church’s closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God’s help through a simple blessing. In a brief prayer preceding this spontaneous blessing, the ordained minister could ask that the individuals have peace, health, a spirit of patience, dialogue, and mutual assistance—but also God’s light and strength to be able to fulfil his will completely.”
Lavoisier Fernandes, born and raised in Goa, is currently based in West London. His faith is “work in progress”—a lifelong journey. He has always been fascinated by the Catholic faith thanks to his Salesian schooling. His passion is podcasting, theology, the papacy, and volunteering. He has hosted the ‘Talking Faith’ series for Heavens Road FM Catholic Radio, connecting with ordinary men and women within the Catholic faith, other faiths and examining issues affecting both Church and society. He has also hosted the ‘Heart Talk’ series for Shalom World Catholic TV. He presently contributes for the Goa Diocesan magazine Renovação and the Faith Companion Magazine in England.
This is the correct understanding of what the church is trying to say.