Bishops say outreach to people in ‘irregular’ relationships needs to go beyond blessings

[Michie]

(OSV News) — Controversy sparked by a recent document from the Holy See on blessings for people in “irregular situations,” including same-sex relationships, “gives all of us an opportunity to go deeper in our concern and outreach to individuals who are living in irregular/sinful relationships,” said Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, Wisconsin, in a recent letter.

“Transcending the vexed question of whether to offer a blessing to such a person/couple or not is the more important need to engage such persons in conversation, prayer, support and accompaniment, towards an understanding and living of the Church’s beautiful and necessary teachings on sexuality and marriage,” Bishop Hying wrote in a Jan. 5 pastoral letter to Catholics in his diocese. “Offering someone a blessing or not does not truly get to the heart of the matter at hand.”

Since the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith issued “Fiducia Supplicans” (“Supplicating Trust”) on “the pastoral meaning of blessings” Dec. 18, which proposed “to broaden and enrich the meaning of blessings,” including the extension of non-liturgical blessings to individuals in “irregular” extramarital sexual relationships — especially same-sex couples and cohabiting heterosexual couples — bishops around the world have distilled its pastoral guidance for their specific flocks.

Diverse global responses to ‘Fiducia Supplicans’​

Continued below.

Bishops say outreach to people in 'irregular' relationships needs to go beyond blessings

Controversy sparked by a recent document from the Holy See on blessings for people in "irregular situations," including same-sex relationships, "gives all of us an opportunity to go deeper in our concern and outreach to individuals who are living in irregular/sinful relationships," said Bishop...

www.oursundayvisitor.com

 

[chevyontheriver]

(OSV News) — Controversy sparked by a recent document from the Holy See on blessings for people in “irregular situations,” including same-sex relationships, “gives all of us an opportunity to go deeper in our concern and outreach to individuals who are living in irregular/sinful relationships,” said Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, Wisconsin, in a recent letter.

“Transcending the vexed question of whether to offer a blessing to such a person/couple or not is the more important need to engage such persons in conversation, prayer, support and accompaniment, towards an understanding and living of the Church’s beautiful and necessary teachings on sexuality and marriage,” Bishop Hying wrote in a Jan. 5 pastoral letter to Catholics in his diocese. “Offering someone a blessing or not does not truly get to the heart of the matter at hand.”

Since the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith issued “Fiducia Supplicans” (“Supplicating Trust”) on “the pastoral meaning of blessings” Dec. 18, which proposed “to broaden and enrich the meaning of blessings,” including the extension of non-liturgical blessings to individuals in “irregular” extramarital sexual relationships — especially same-sex couples and cohabiting heterosexual couples — bishops around the world have distilled its pastoral guidance for their specific flocks.

Diverse global responses to ‘Fiducia Supplicans’​

Continued below.

Bishops say outreach to people in 'irregular' relationships needs to go beyond blessings

Controversy sparked by a recent document from the Holy See on blessings for people in "irregular situations," including same-sex relationships, "gives all of us an opportunity to go deeper in our concern and outreach to individuals who are living in irregular/sinful relationships," said Bishop...

www.oursundayvisitor.com

If only FS had not blundered on ‘couples’ and blundered again on ‘non-liturgical blessings’ and had paid attention to the reconciliation of all to Christ. It should have been about the Church assisting those in irregular couplings to figure out how to live in chastity. Confession, deliverance prayers as needed, exorcisms as needed, social services as needed for people to be able to escape sin. A big engagement for the sake of a category of sinners. Instead it’s a ten second impromptu blessing, almost a nothing, which can be seen and has been done as an affirmation of irregularity.

FS needs to be called back and corrected. The bishops in this article (Hying and Nauman et al) could be called on to fix the failed document. Then it could be a decent statement of mission for us all.

 

[Michie]

If only FS had not blundered on ‘couples’ and blundered again on ‘non-liturgical blessings’ and had paid attention to the reconciliation of all to Christ. It should have been about the Church assisting those in irregular couplings to figure out how to live in chastity. Confession, deliverance prayers as needed, exorcisms as needed, social services as needed for people to be able to escape sin. A big engagement for the sake of a category of sinners. Instead it’s a ten second impromptu blessing, almost a nothing, which can be seen and has been done as an affirmation of irregularity.

FS needs to be called back and corrected. The bishops in this article (Hying and Nauman et al) could be called on to fix the failed document. Then it could be a decent statement of mission for us all.

That would certainly bring great clarity and fix this botched up situation. The question is would the powers that be be willing?

 

[chevyontheriver]

That would certainly bring great clarity and fix this botched up situation. The question is would the powers that be be willing?

I think they have already tripled down and may quadruple down soon. So no, it's unlikely. This is wilder than when Humanae Vitae came out by far.