Vatican Restu Regarding Humanism, Not Similar Marriage Recognition

JAKARTA Pope Francis approved the issuance of a decision from the Vatican stating that the Roman Catholic Pastor could give blessings to same-sex marriage.

Pope Francis previously indicated that official changes were being pursued in October, in response to questions raised by five conservative cardinals at the beginning of the synod period of the bishops at the Vatican.

Documents from the Vatican doctrine office reported by Reuters on Tuesday, December 19, have effectively canceled the 2021 declaration of same-sex couples. However, the document states that blessings can only be given as long as they are not part of the church's ritual or regular liturgical.

This is because such a blessing will not legitimize an unusual situation, only a sign that God welcomes everyone. This means that blessings cannot be equated with heterosexual marriage ceremonies. In addition, priests must also make decisions based on case by case.

The eight-page document, which was released on Monday (18/12) local time, has a subjudul About the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings', outlines specific situations. One section consisting of 11 points has the title Creation for Couples in Unusual Situations and Same-Sex Partners.

The church teaches that interest in the same sex is not a sin, but homosexual acts are a sin. Since being elected in 2013, Pope Francis has tried to make the 1.35 billion-member church more friendly to LGBT groups without changing moral doctrine.

Although the Roman Catholic Pastor can give blessings to married gay and lesbian couples, documents from the Vatican doctrine office still regulate the terms and conditions. In principle, the Roman Catholic Pastor should not give blessings in the civil wedding ceremony.

Roman Catholic priests are not allowed to give blessings in the symplement of heterosexual marriage. The form of blessing given is 'not to be set ritually by the church authorities to avoid confusion with blessings that are in accordance with the Wedding Saqrem.'

It was also stated that this could be applied to those who did not claim legitimacy on their own status, but asked that all those who were true, good, and humane in their lives, and their relationship was enriched, cured, and elevated by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

"In the end, blessings provide humans a means to increase their trust in God," the document said.

The Vatican document also emphasizes that blessings should not be associated or regulated in time with civilian wedding ceremonies, and carried out without wearing clothes, body movements, or appropriate words for a marriage. In addition, a place for blessing is only possible in other contexts, such as visits to a holy place, gatherings with priests, reading prayers in groups, or during pilgrimages.

Although documents on the blessing of same-sex couples were officially issued by the Vatican doctrine office, it turned out that it was not necessarily agreed with Catholic Churches. For example, the Ukrainian Catholic Church. The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church firmly stated that blessings to same-sex couples would not be applied to churches and their teachings.

Archbishop Major Sviatoslav Shevchuk assessed that the Vatican document interprets the pastoral meaning of blessing in the Latin Church, but does not refer to issues governing eastern churches or the Greek Catholic Church.

"This declaration only applies to the Latin Church and there is no legal coercion for the congregation of the Greek Catholic Church of Ukraine," he said as quoted by Reuter, Sunday, December 24.

Shevchuk emphasized that blessings cannot be separated and contrary from the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding families as a unit of love that is loyal, inseparable, and fertile between a man and a woman.

Criticism of the Vatican's decision also came from conservatives in the church, which previously criticized Pope Francis when he made his first comments on the matter last October. A professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame in the United States, Ulric L Lehner, assessed that the latest guidance from the Vatican doctrine office drew misunderstandings and would sow confusion.

Lehner voiced concern that a number of bishops would use the decision as an excuse to do things that were explicitly prohibited. "This, and I hate to say it, is an invitation to a skism (religious division)," he added.

So, how about in Indonesia itself? Father Benny Phang Ocarm revealed, this declaration has indeed created pros and cons. Therefore, he emphasized that the declaration is a matter of blessing, not marriage.

"This is a personal blessing, not a blessing for their relationship. From them, a good understanding of the meaning of a blessing is demanded," said Father Benny.

He explained that the blessing of same-sex couples is for personal use and does not legitimize the status of life. This blessing is called not a blessing with certain lituristic bonds, or semi-lithic, or something that resembles a saklomen. "But a blessing that is spontaneous in nature," he continued.

In addition, to avoid misunderstandings, the public must also understand if the declaration clearly prohibits this blessing in conjunction with civil registration, or all matters relating to it.

"This is the basic logic that there should be no liturological blessing with certaintenuism, all practices of a way of life that are contrary to the meaning of marriage. Included in it are all forms of unity (unions) that are similar to marriage or those outside of marriage. Big No! " said Father Benny.