Catholic dioceses reject same-sex blessings guidelines in Germany

Several Catholic dioceses in Germany have declined to adopt a new set of guidelines for blessing couples. The document includes provisions for same-sex and irregular unions that critics say contradict Vatican guidelines.

The dioceses of Augsburg, Eichstätt, Passau and Regensburg joined Cologne last week in rejecting the pastoral text produced jointly by the German Bishops’ Conference and the Central Committee of German Catholics, The Catholic Herald reported.

The handout, titled Segen spendet Liebe Kraft (“Blessing Gives Strength to Love”), has been in circulation since March and proposes a framework for blessing couples, including music, readings and ceremonial elements.

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