Blessing same-sex couples is different from blessing same-sexual marriages/unions.

The Catholic Church still maintains that ONLY sexual relations between a man and a woman in the context of marriage are considered lawful — Father Ugochukwu

“You must have seen this news making headlines and you might be wondering what the Pope meant by that statement.

Do not get it twisted. The Holy Father, Pope Francis hasn’t changed the original idea of marriage as rooted in the Scriptures. Marriage is still a union between a man and a woman. Same-sex unions are considered unlawful by the Catholic Church.

It is one thing to bless same-sex couples but another thing to bless same-sex marriages/unions. Everybody can be blessed including those who live in irregular situations. When same-sex couples are blessed, it’s not their union that is blessed but the individuals/human persons themselves.

With the Declaration “Fiducia supplicans” issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved by Pope Francis, it will be possible to bless same-sex couples but without any type of ritualization or offering the impression of a marriage.

The doctrine regarding marriage does not change, and the blessing does not signify approval or endorsement of the union. The declaration reiterated that according to the “perennial Catholic doctrine” only sexual relations between a man and a woman in the context of marriage are considered lawful.”