German Catholics will bless same-sex couples, defying Vatican ban
By Kirsten Grieshaber
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BERLIN (AP) - Germany s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions by offering such blessings at services in about 100 different churches all over the country this week.
The blessings at open worship services are the latest pushback from German Catholics against a document released in March by the Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which said Catholic clergy cannot bless same-sex unions because God cannot bless sin.
Conservatives fear a schism as tension grows. By
Austa Somvichian-Clausen | May 10, 2021 Vicar Wolfgang Rothe, left, blesses the couple Christine Walter, center, and Almut Muenster, right, during a Catholic service with the blessing of same-sex couples in St Benedict s Church in Munich, Sunday, May 9, 2021. Germany’s Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions by offering exactly such blessings at services in about 100 different churches all over the country. The blessings at open worship services are the latest pushback from German Catholics against a document released in March by the Vatican’s orthodoxy office, which said Catholic clergy cannot bless same-sex unions. Felix Hoerhager/dpa via AP
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by Kirsten Grieshaber, The Associated Press
Posted May 10, 2021 3:45 am ADT
Last Updated May 10, 2021 at 3:55 am ADT
BERLIN Germany’s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions by offering such blessings at services in about 100 different churches all over the country this week.
The blessings at open worship services are the latest pushback from German Catholics against a document released in March by the Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which said Catholic clergy cannot bless same-sex unions because God “cannot bless sin.”
The document pleased conservatives and disheartened advocates for LGBTQ Catholics around the globe. But the response has been particularly acute in Germany, where the German church has been at the forefront of opening discussion on hot-button issues such the church’s teaching on homosexuality as part of a formal process of de
Germany s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions.
They are offering such blessings at services in about 100 different churches all over the country this week.
The blessings at open worship services are the latest pushback from German Catholics against a document released in March by the Vatican s orthodoxy office.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said Catholic clergy cannot bless same-sex unions because God cannot bless sin.
The document pleased conservatives and disheartened advocates for LGBTQ Catholics around the world. But the response has been particularly acute in Germany, where the German church has been at the forefront of opening discussion on hot-button issues such as the church s teaching on homosexuality as part of a formal process of debate and reform.