PabloSerna said:
I am not playing a game with you or anyone. I'm speaking the truth. I read the same document, have been following this on both sides for years. I have said all along that any development (encyclical, blessings, etc.) would not, could not be confused with marriage. The declaration from the DDF said that exactly. This wasn't the radical change LGBTQ+ Catholics were hoping for, but it was a small step in acknowledging them and their spiritual need to come home.
We are all sinners, let's get that up front. We all can use a blessing, which carries a real grace, to live a more holy life. Now two people in an irregular (I'm thinking people living together) and same sex couples (I'm thinking LGBTQ+) can walk together on that journey back home like the prodigal son. We are all a work in progress. We are going to fall many times and this blessing is a reminder that Jesus is there to carry us during those times.
Living a more holy life will mean the same thing to all couples- to live a virtuous life.
ETA: Who is saying "I am not going to live more virtuously?" I say "virtuous" because of the 7 virtues to counter the 7 vices.
This is why I don't think Catholics understand the covenant of Baptism upon infants revealed in both Testaments.
If they are living in that kind of sin, we should not assume that they are in the blessings of the covenant.
Blessing homosexuality in any form is not gonna work, silly.
This has lower case protestant written all over it and the language Francis uses reminds me exactly of the emergent church and seeker sensitive skubalon.