Pope Francis has formally approved priests to bless same-sex couples in a radical change to Vatican policy, according to a document from the Vatican’s doctrine office that was released on Monday.
The document provides more details on a topic he discussed in a letter sent to two cardinals in October.
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Francis said the blessings may be given under some circumstances, but it is not the sacrament of marriage.
The blessings must not be liturgical or carried out during a civil union.
They must not be conducted while doing rituals that resemble a wedding or include clothing or gestures that are typical in a wedding ceremony.
The document also restated the Vatican’s belief that marriage occurs between a man and a woman, but it also said “when people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it.”
Pope Francis’ latest decision is consistent with his reputation for being more welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community than his papal predecessors.
He told the Associated Press, “Being homosexual is not a crime.”
In 2013, he was asked a question about the sexual orientation of priests, and he said, “Who am I to judge?”
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The Associated Press contributed to this story.