Indonesian Ambassador To The Vatican: Blessings Are Not A Sign Of Catholic Recognition To Same-sex Marriages

Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Vatican Holy Throne Michael Trias Kuncahyono. (ANTARA/HO-Monang Sinaga)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Ambassador to the Vatican Holy See Michael Trias Kuncahyono said that giving blessings is not a sign of acknowledgment of the Catholic Church for same-sex marriage. When asked for a response by ANTARA about the news that said the Vatican granted a blessing permit to same-sex couples, Trias explained that blessing same-sex couples is not the same as a marriage switch, which is a formal ceremony in the Catholic Church. Trias emphasized that the term'blessing' referred to by Pope Francis when agreeing to the Fiducia Supply (Requesting Belief) document was not a blessing related to marriage. "Greet should not be given during or related to civil or same-sex marriage ceremonies, or when there are ‘ clothes, body movements, or any words that are appropriate for weddings ’,” said Ambassador Trias on the sidelines of accompanying the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri, who took part in the Zayed Award judging activity, in Rome Italia, Wednesday afternoon. In other words, he said, the gift of blessings to people who like the same sex is not the same as the symplement of marriage but an ordinary blessing as given to everyone. Trias further explained that the principles of Catholic marriage as written in the document "Fiducia Supply" constitute an exclusive, stable, and indistinguishable union between a man and a woman who is naturally open to producing descent ”. This belief is based on the doctrine of eternal Catholicism about marriage. For this reason, it is only in this context that sexual relations find their natural, precise, and fully human meaning. The Church's doctrine on this remains steadfast. “ In other words, the official teachings of the Catholic Church from time immemorial about marriage will not change. The legal marriage within the Catholic Church still occurs only between a man and a woman and is monogamous for the continuation of descendants and supports God's love that is revealed through family life,” said Trias. He also believes that as the supreme leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis will continue to maintain the doctrine of eternal marriage, so that it is impossible for the Pope to approve same-sex marriage.

The document "Fiducia Supply" also states that Catholic priests can give blessings to same-sex lovers as long as it is not part of a church ritual or liturgical, but can be done in other contexts, such as during visits to the holy place, meetings with priests, reading prayers in groups, or during pilgrimages.