Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples if they don't resemble marriage

[Chrystal-J]

irregular​

​

ĭ-rĕg′yə-lər​

adjective​

1. Contrary to rule, accepted order, or general practice.
2. Not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention.
3. Not straight, uniform, or symmetrical.
4. Of uneven rate, occurrence, or duration.
5. Deviating from a type; atypical.
6. Having differing floral parts, as of a zygomorphic or asymmetric flower.
7. Falling below the manufacturer's standard or usual specifications; imperfect.
8. Departing from the usual pattern of inflection, derivation, or word formation, as the present forms of the verb be or the plural noun children.
9. Not belonging to a permanent, organized military force.

Not conforming to moral law? Why would the Pope want to bless that?

 

[Chrystal-J]

If someone wants a blessing surrounding sin, they should go to confession, repent and ask for a blessing.

 

[IcyChain]

Why would the Pope want to bless that?

He does not want to bless an irregular union. If you study the document further I think you will see that.

 

[Chrystal-J]

He does not want to bless an irregular union. If you study the document further I think you will see that.

The pope talks about spontaneous blessings of same sex couples. Why couples? Why not singularly bless those who repent (as in confession)? If a married man and his mistress want a "spontaneous" blessing together, why not do that too?

 

[IcyChain]

If someone wants a blessing surrounding sin, they should go to confession, repent and ask for a blessing.

God gives sinners grace so that they may repent of thier sins. God's grace always precedes repentance, at least for people who are not in a state of grace.

 

[IcyChain]

The pope talks about spontaneous blessings of same sex couples. Why couples? Why not singularly bless those who repent (as in confession)? If a married man and his mistress want a "spontaneous" blessing together, why not do that too?

People do not need to be in a state of grace or sin free before receiving a blessing. The priest is not blessing the union or blessing the sin. He is blessing the people (in this case the two people who are the couple) to impart grace to them that they may come to repentance. This is how I understood the document at least.

 

[Chrystal-J]

People do not need to be in a state of grace or sin free before receiving a blessing. The priest is not blessing the union or blessing the sin. He is blessing the people (in this case the two people who are the couple) to impart grace to them that they may come to repentance. This is how I understood the document at least.

Why did the Pope even mention same sex couples then? Is the couple supposed to announce that ahead of time? Why not bless one person at a time, instead of them as a "couple"?

 

[Sword of the Lord]

 

[Chrystal-J]

View attachment 340627

Fr. Martin couldn't wait to do this. He must not be worried about his own salvation as well as the salvation of others.

 

[IcyChain]

Why did the Pope even mention same sex couples then?

I don't know the answer to that, but the "Presentation" section of the document appears to give some reasons for the document itself:

This Declaration considers several questions that have come to this Dicastery in recent years. In preparing the document, the Dicastery, as is its practice, consulted experts, undertook a careful drafting process, and discussed the text in the Congresso of the Doctrinal Section of the Dicastery. During that time, the document was discussed with the Holy Father. Finally, the text of the Declaration was submitted to the Holy Father for his review, and he approved it with his signature.​

​

​

While the subject matter of this document was being studied, the Holy Father’s response to the Dubia of some Cardinals was made known. That response provided important clarifications for this reflection and represents a decisive element for the work of the Dicastery. Since “the Roman Curia is primarily an instrument at the service of the successor of Peter” (Ap. Const. Praedicate Evangelium, II, 1), our work must foster, along with an understanding of the Church’s perennial doctrine, the reception of the Holy Father’s teaching.​

​

​

As with the Holy Father’s above-mentioned response to the Dubia of two Cardinals, this Declaration remains firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage, not allowing any type of liturgical rite or blessing similar to a liturgical rite that can create confusion. The value of this document, however, is that it offers a specific and innovative contribution to the pastoral meaning of blessings, permitting a broadening and enrichment of the classical understanding of blessings, which is closely linked to a liturgical perspective. Such theological reflection, based on the pastoral vision of Pope Francis, implies a real development from what has been said about blessings in the Magisterium and the official texts of the Church. This explains why this text has taken on the typology of a “Declaration.”​

Is the couple supposed to announce that ahead of time?

Are they supposed to announce that they are gay? Not that I am aware of.

Why not bless one person at a time, instead of them as a "couple"?

I suppose you could do that. I mean, if me and my younger brother are taking a Holy Land tour given by the Franciscan Friars, I image that we might approach the priest together at some point and say "Father, could you bless us." I don't think he has to say "OK, please separate, I will bless you IcyChain and then I will bless your brother." It is not like he is blessing our union as "brothers" when we ask for a blessing at the same time.

I think the document contemplates situations like that:

40. Such a blessing may instead find its place in other contexts, such as a visit to a shrine, a meeting with a priest, a prayer recited in a group, or during a pilgrimage. Indeed, through these blessings that are given not through the ritual forms proper to the liturgy but as an expression of the Church’s maternal heart—similar to those that emanate from the core of popular piety—there is no intention to legitimize anything, but rather to open one’s life to God, to ask for his help to live better, and also to invoke the Holy Spirit so that the values of the Gospel may be lived with greater faithfulness.

 

[IcyChain]

[Photo]

Were you expecting it to be a picture of a man and a woman?

 

[Chrystal-J]

Were you expecting it to be a picture of a man and a woman?

If the Pope wasn't going off the rails? Yes

 

[Sword of the Lord]

Were you expecting it to be a picture of a man and a woman?

You're so disingenuous lol. Same old rinse and repeat nonsense this forum has suffered from for over a decade. I see you bud.

 

[RileyG]

View attachment 340627

Is he not concerned about the salvation of these two men? shudder...

 

[IcyChain]

You're so disingenuous lol. Same old rinse and repeat nonsense this forum has suffered from for over a decade. I see you bud.

Have a blessed day my brother in Christ.

 

[IcyChain]

Is he not concerned about the salvation of these two men? shudder...

No grace for "the gays". Only you and I can receive a blessing because we are sinless.

 

[RileyG]

No grace for "the gays". Only you and I can receive a blessing because we are sinless.

That's not how it works.

Choosing to live in unrepentant mortal sin leads to hell and no grace.

Trust me, I'm FAR from sinless.

 

[IcyChain]

If the Pope wasn't going off the rails? Yes

Or the pope could be right, and you could be wrong.

 

[IcyChain]

Choosing to live in unrepentant mortal sin leads to hell and no grace.

Well, it will certainly lead to hell if one remains in that state at the end of one's life.

But it does not mean no grace. In fact, a person in unrepentant mortal sin must receive grace in order to repent. This person cannot come to repentance unless God first gives him the grace to do so.

 

[RileyG]

Well, it will certainly lead to hell if one remains in that state at the end of one's life.

But it does not mean no grace. In fact, a person in unrepentant mortal sin must receive grace in order to repent. This person cannot come to repentance unless God first gives him the grace to do so.

Yes. I misunderstood. That's right.