Just got a text from a friend that, "Pope Francis formally permits Roman Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, in a major shift in Vatican doctrine."
So I did what all good Catholics should do and went to the Vatican's website expecting some new document only to realize it was the lengthy response to a Dubia (request for clarification of sorts) from 5 Cardinals back in July, just before the October Synod held in Rome nearly two months ago.
Here is the Pope's response via the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (RCC teaching authority) in full. Please note that NO DOCTRINE was changed. Because as the response to the first dubium states, "Divine Revelation is immutable and always binding." Further the Pope goes on to say, "Cultural changes and new challenges in history do not modify Revelation but can stimulate us to express certain aspects of its overflowing richness better, which always offers more. It is inevitable that this can lead to a better expression of some past statements of the Magisterium, and indeed, this has been the case throughout history."
It a deep dive and I don't want to cherry pick parts of it off to make a point, however, some key developments popped out for me:
1. That the RCC's expression of Divine Revelation is on going.
2. That any blessing of persons does not equate to marriage.
3. That some unions are reflective of love in a "partial and analogous way."
4. That any request for a blessing is a plea from God to live better.
More to come.
So I did what all good Catholics should do and went to the Vatican's website expecting some new document only to realize it was the lengthy response to a Dubia (request for clarification of sorts) from 5 Cardinals back in July, just before the October Synod held in Rome nearly two months ago.
Here is the Pope's response via the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (RCC teaching authority) in full. Please note that NO DOCTRINE was changed. Because as the response to the first dubium states, "Divine Revelation is immutable and always binding." Further the Pope goes on to say, "Cultural changes and new challenges in history do not modify Revelation but can stimulate us to express certain aspects of its overflowing richness better, which always offers more. It is inevitable that this can lead to a better expression of some past statements of the Magisterium, and indeed, this has been the case throughout history."
It a deep dive and I don't want to cherry pick parts of it off to make a point, however, some key developments popped out for me:
1. That the RCC's expression of Divine Revelation is on going.
2. That any blessing of persons does not equate to marriage.
3. That some unions are reflective of love in a "partial and analogous way."
4. That any request for a blessing is a plea from God to live better.
More to come.
