The Vatican clarifies that blessings for homosexual couples are not an "approval" and asks that they last "a few seconds"

It specifies that the statement cannot be considered "heretical, contrary to the Tradition of the Church or blasphemous."

   ROMA, 4 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith clarified this Thursday that the blessings for homosexuals, divorced and remarried couples and couples who live together without having passed through the altar, approved by the Pope on December 18, do not They represent an "approval" for these forms of life and he has asked that they be brief, that is, that they last a maximum of "10 or 15 seconds" and that they be carried out without any type of ritual.

This is indicated by the dicastery in a six-page statement, collected by Europa Press and published to help clarify the document 'Fiducia supplicans', which allows these blessings, given the reactions it has aroused in some episcopal conferences.

"The understandable statements of some Episcopal Conferences on the document Fiducia Supplicans have the value of evidencing the need for a longer time of pastoral reflection. What these Episcopal Conferences have expressed cannot be interpreted as a doctrinal opposition, because the document is clear and classic on marriage and sexuality," the explanatory note emphasizes, adding that "there would be no room to distance oneself doctrinally" from it "nor to consider it heretical, contrary to the Tradition of the Church or blasphemous."

Specifically, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has assured that this declaration approved in December by Pope Francis does not change the "doctrine on marriage" and that it is the bishops who can discern "its application according to the context." Furthermore, he specified that the situation in which these people find themselves is neither approved nor justified.

"This form of non-ritualized blessing, with the simplicity and brevity of its form, is not intended to justify something that is not morally acceptable. Obviously, it is not a marriage, but it is not even an 'approval' or a ratification of anything. It is "only the response of a pastor to two people who ask for God's help. That is why in that case the pastor does not ask for conditions nor does he want to know the intimate life of those subjects," says the prefect of the dicastery, Víctor Manuel Fernández, while recommends "a complete and calm reading of the declaration to better understand the meaning of its proposal."

Likewise, he points out that "these are blessings of a few seconds, without ritual or blessing" and gives the example of a divorced couple in a new union who, in the middle of a great pilgrimage, ask the priest for a blessing.

"They tell the priest: 'Please give us a blessing, we can't get a job, he is very sick, we don't have a home, life is becoming very difficult for us, may God help us.' In that case, the priest can say a simple prayer similar to this: 'Lord, look at these children of yours, grant them health, work, peace, mutual help. Free them from everything that contradicts your Gospel and grant them to live according to your will. Amen.' And it ends with the sign of the cross on each of the two," he proposes.

Thus, the prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith points out that the blessings have to be brief, that is, a maximum duration of "10 or 15 seconds." "Does it make sense to deny this type of blessing to those two people who beg for it? Isn't it worth sustaining their faith, a little or a lot, to help their weakness with divine blessing, to give a channel to that opening to transcendence that could lead them to be more faithful to the Gospel?" asks the Argentine cardinal.

For this reason, he clarifies that each bishop in his diocese is authorized by the Declaration 'Fiducia supplicans' to enable this type of "simple blessings, with all the recommendations of prudence and care", but that in no way "are they authorized to propose or enable blessings that can be compared to a liturgical rite".

"Some bishops, for example, have established that each priest will be able to discern, but that he will be able to perform these blessings only in private. None of this is problematic if it is expressed within a framework of respect for a text signed and approved by the Supreme Pontiff himself, trying to embrace in some way the reflection it contains," he points out.

At the same time, the note refers to the delicate situation in some countries, where homosexuality is condemned, prohibited and criminalized. In these cases, the Vatican points out that, beyond the question of blessings, there is "a broad long-term pastoral task that includes formation, defense of human dignity, teaching of the Social Doctrine of the Church and various strategies that do not they admit haste."

"If there is legislation that penalizes the mere fact of declaring oneself as gay with prison, and in some cases with torture and even death, it is understood that it would be an imprudent blessing. It is evident that the bishops do not want to expose homosexual people to violence." "he emphasizes.