Recently, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a new declaration titled “Fiducia Supplicans” which, in part, states that any same-sex or unmarried couple can receive a blessing from a priest or deacon under certain conditions. Father Dave explains this news and clarifies some misconceptions about what it means.
Father Dave explains that, despite some headlines, this is not a change in Church doctrine. “What was announced is in no way a doctrinal shift,” he begins. “This was what amounts to a clarification on blessings. It’s on the pastoral meaning of blessings; it is not a document called ‘time to make blessings for gay couples.’ To be fair, people in same-sex relationships are mentioned specifically in the document, so it’s not a complete distortion. But I would say it is a distortion to say it’s a major doctrinal shift.” The document highlights the permittance of blessings for “couples in irregular situations.” in addition to same-sex couples.
He quotes the USCCB in saying that the document “articulates a distinction between liturgical (sacramental) blessings, and pastoral blessings, which may be given to persons who desire God’s loving grace in their lives.” Father Dave continues, “Some people have already contacted me today and said, ‘Oh, does this mean that you can now do gay weddings?’ That is not what it means.”
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“Many terms in the Church and in our language have multiple meanings and different layers of meanings,” Father Dave continues. “So when we say ‘a blessing,’ it could mean a formal liturgical blessing, which means in the context of public prayer. This document that came out today goes to great lengths to distinguish between those types of blessings and [pastoral ones].” The document highlights that only these informal pastoral blessings and not liturgical blessings are to be given to same-sex couples. It also details several parameters that would disqualify a blessing, specifically in regards to “clothing, gestures, or words that are proper to a wedding.”
Father Dave notes a key word saying, “This new document says that there is no prohibition for a priest giving a spontaneous blessing – they use this word several times – to anyone who approaches him and asks for his blessing. It goes into great pastoral care in this document to say priests, bishops, or bishops’ conferences like the USCCB should not put themselves in the role of judge and jury as to who deserves a blessing or not. Now we can, for good reason, have parameters about who may or may not receive a Sacrament. But again, the whole point of this document today is to say Sacraments are one thing, blessings are something else.”
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Father Dave suggests how this is a way to evangelize pastorally. “That doesn’t negate the need for the Church and the institution to have some things that draw distinctions, rules, and certain parameters for who can participate in certain things. But what [Pope Francis and the DDF] is saying is that that can’t be everything…there are certain ways in which we need to be like Christ and not gauge or evaluate who is coming to us seeking God’s grace.”
“When people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it,” he explains. “So in other words, if somebody walks up to me on the street – and this does happen – and says, ‘Father, can you give me your blessing?’ This document is saying that I should not then say, ‘Well, when was last time you were in confession? When was the last time you were in Church? Are you a good practicing Catholic, because those are all preconditions as to whether or not I’ll give you a blessing.’ This document is saying, ‘don’t do that, priests.’”