Pope stands by blessing LGBTQ+ couples & blasts opponents for refusing “brotherly discussion”

Despite immense opposition, Pope Francis is standing by his approval of the blessing of same-sex unions.

The new rule was included in a declaration issued on December 18 by the Vatican’s Office of the Doctrine of the Faith and signed by Pope Francis. It allows priests to bless same-sex couples for the very first time, though it emphasizes that the Church still does not approve of same-sex marriage.

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This LGBTQ+ Catholic leader met Pope Francis & believes there is hope for full acceptance

“Many church leaders have realized that our Church must change to survive in today’s world,” said Marianne Duddy-Burke after meeting with Pope Francis.

The announcement caused uproar in the Catholic community, but the Pope appears to have no regrets. In a recent appearance on an Italian talk show, he stated that the “Lord blesses everyone” and that “in most cases, when you don’t accept a decision, it’s because you don’t understand,” the Associated Press reported.

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When the host asked him if he felt alone in his decision, he declared, “You make a decision, and solitude is a price you have to pay.” He also expressed regret that many who are angry are unwilling to engage in “brotherly discussion” and instead jump immediately to “ugly conclusions.”

Reactions to the December 18 announcement have been mixed at best, even among LGBTQ+ people. While some hailed it as a huge step toward LGBTQ+ acceptance, others saw it as a halfhearted insult.

“You can stick your blessing, Pope Francis,” gay journalist Matt Cain declared in an op-ed. “It’s a fig leaf, a PR exercise, a means of laundering your prejudice to make it seem like a step towards acceptance.”

Only a few weeks after he approved blessing same-sex couples, Pope Francis also called for a universal ban on surrogacy, likening it to human trafficking and calling it a “despicable” practice.

A universal ban on surrogacy would no doubt disproportionately affect gay male couples who have virtually no other way to produce biological children. Pope Francis’s comments will likely further stoke disagreement among LGBTQ+ advocates about whether or not the Pope is actually bringing the Church further toward total LGBTQ+ inclusion.