Germany鈥檚 Catholics to bless gay unions
Print Edition
Germany鈥檚 powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions by offering such blessings at services in about 100 different churches all over the country this week.
The blessings at open worship services are the latest pushback from German Catholics against a document released in March by the Vatican鈥檚 orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which said Catholic clergy cannot bless same-sex unions because God 鈥渃annot bless sin.鈥
The document pleased conservatives and disheartened advocates for LGBTQ Catholics around the globe.
But the response has been particularly acute in Germany, where the German church has been at the forefront of opening discussion on hot-button issues such as the church鈥檚 teaching on homosexuality as part of a formal process of debate and reform.
Escalating tensions
The dozens of church services celebrating blessings of gay unions are the latest escalation in tensions between conservatives and progressives that have already sparked alarm, primarily from the right, that part of the German church might be heading into schism.
Germany is no stranger to schism: 500 years ago, Martin Luther launched the Reformation here.
Pope Francis, who has championed a more decentralized church, has already reminded the German hierarchy it must remain in communion with Rome during its reform process, known as a 鈥渟ynodal path.鈥
In Berlin, the Reverend Jan Korditschke, a Jesuit who works for the diocese preparing adults for baptism and helps at the St Canisius congregation, will lead blessings for queer couples at a worship service May 16.
鈥淚 am convinced that homosexual orientation is not bad, nor is homosexual love a sin,鈥 Korditschke said on Friday. 鈥淚 want to celebrate the love of homosexuals with these blessings because the love of homosexuals is something good.
鈥淚 stand behind what I am doing, though it is painful for me that I cannot do it in tune with the church leadership.鈥
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
