Misplaced Pages

Fiducia supplicans

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Karma1998 (talk | contribs) at 20:07, 21 December 2023 (Undid revision 1191145730 by StardustToStardust (talk) The document does not reverse the 2021 statement. Read the document). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 20:07, 21 December 2023 by Karma1998 (talk | contribs) (Undid revision 1191145730 by StardustToStardust (talk) The document does not reverse the 2021 statement. Read the document)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 2023 Catholic doctrine on same-sex couples

Fiducia supplicans (transl. Supplicating Trust) is a declaration on Catholic doctrine published in December 2023 by the Catholic Church's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) and approved by Pope Francis. It regulates the possibility of Roman Catholic priests to give individual blessing to same-sex couples and certain other non-married couples.

It is the first declaration from the DDF in 23 years, with Dominus Iesus in 2000.

History

The last doctrinal declaration prior to Fiducia supplicans was Dominus Iesus in 2000.

Back in 2021, the DDF had issued a Responsum ad dubium ("Response to doubt"), in which it replied in the negative to the question of whether the church has "the power to give the blessing to unions of persons of the same sex". The reasons for that answer were set out in an accompanying "explanatory note".

Contents

Fiducia supplicans provides clarifications and reforms on the church's treatment of what it calls "irregular relationships", that is, those that established a monogamous and emotional bond that lasts over time and that have not contracted marriage. Most notably, it allows Catholic priests to perform "spontaneous blessings" on same-sex couples, as well as opposite-sex couples who are not yet married, and married couples who were previously divorced and have not received an annulment, but only so that they may “be able to fulfill will completely.”

The document details that this type of informal and spontaneous blessing is neither a sacrament nor a rite of the Catholic Church, so no special ceremony is performed for it. The document maintains that sexual relations are licit only within marriage, so heterosexual couples are urged to marry and not consider this blessing as an alternative to marriage. All extramarital sexual relations are considered a sin by the Church and continue to be so, which is why it is asked for the affect that may exist between the two people of the same sex involved. The sexual attraction between two people of the same sex is not condemned according to the sexual morality of the church, but the sexual act is.

Fiducia supplicans does not provide for changes with respect to the institution of marriage in the Catholic Church. Marriage is still understood only as the union between a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all kind of marriages that are not heterosexual and monogamous, such as same-sex marriage, as well as any kind of heterosexual or bisexual bigamy and polygamy.

Reaction

The declaration was described as being part of Francis's efforts at greater LGBT inclusion in the Catholic Church, and viewed by both supporters and opponents as a stepping stone to future recognition of same-sex marriage within it. However, many commentators (including supporters of the document) have noted that it does not change the Church's doctrine on marriage and sexuality.

In Belgium, Antwerp Bishop Johan Bonny praised the decision as "moving towards" this goal. According to Archbishop Franz Lackner, head of the Archdiocese of Salzburg, the document means that “Basically, one can no longer say no" to blessing same-sex unions. though his spokesperson later said that "no personal obligation can be derived from a general openness to bless same-sex couples for each individual case". Geert De Kerpel, the spokesperson for the Flemish Catholic Church, stated that it would not have an impact locally, as same-sex unions were already being blessed, but that the declaration would rightfully now apply this situation at an international level. Fr James Martin SJ reacted by stating that "Fiducia supplicans is a major step forward in the church's ministry to LGBTQ people and recognises the desire for same-sex couples for God's presence and help in their committed and loving relationships." The next day, he had performed a blessing to a married same-sex couple.

The declaration sparked controversy and criticism among conservative Catholics.The Archdiocese of Mary Most Holy in Astana condemned Fiducia supplicans, with Archbishop Tomasz Peta and Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider denouncing Fiducia supplicans for contradicting "Divine Revelation and the uninterrupted, bimillennial doctrine and practice of the Catholic Church." They formally forbade any priest from performing such blessings. The Episcopal Conference of Malawi also explicitly prohibited the implementation of the Vatican's directive concerning the blessing of same-sex unions or similar "irregular situations" within Malawi, stating that "blessings of any kind and for same sex unions of any kind, are not permitted in Malawi". Similiarly, Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops also rejected application of the declaration to avoid breaching the laws of the country and to avoid pastoral inclarities. The Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops in Ukraine stated that it saw a “danger in ambiguous wording that causes divergent interpretations among the faithful”.

Criticism also came from a number of evangelical Protestants such as Franklin Graham and Albert Mohler.

A certain number of commentators and Episcopal Conferences approached the document in a more moderate way. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement in which they viewed the declaration as " a distinction between liturgical (sacramental) blessings, and pastoral blessings." They also stated that the declaration has affirmed that "The Church’s teaching on marriage has not changed.” The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement also agreeing that the document affirms church teaching on marriage "explicitly." Bishop Czesław Kozon of Denmark said that there was a problem not with the content of the statement, “but the way it will be received and interpreted.” President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi said, "What people do not understand is that if a gay couple goes to the priest to bless them, and the pope says yes, you are blessing the people and not the union". Bishop Johannes Hendriks of Amsterdam-Harleem criticized the media for their reporting of the document and stated that “does not want blessing celebrations for gay couples or recognition of these relationships”.

In a statement to InfoVaticana, Cardinal Fernandez underlined that the document does not allow priests to bless same-sex unions, but the inviduals in the couple.

See also

References

  1. ^ Wooden, Cindy (18 December 2023). "Doctrinal dicastery explains how, when gay couples can be blessed". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  2. Faiola, Anthony; Pitrelli, Stefano (18 December 2023). "Pope Francis allows blessings of same-sex couples, shifting Vatican guidance". Washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  3. Liedl, Jonathan (2023-12-18). "Vatican Says Priests Can Bless Same-Sex Couples Without Condoning Their Lifestyles". Catholic News Agency. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20.
  4. ^ Hudson, Patrick (18 December 2023). "DDF declaration opens door to blessings for 'irregular' couples". The Tablet. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023.
  5. Coppen, Luke (2023-12-18). "'Fiducia supplicans': What does it say?". The Pillar. Archived from the original on 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  6. "Fiducia supplicans". Vatican.va. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  7. Martin S.J., James (18 December 2023). "Pope Francis' same-sex blessings declaration is a major step forward for LGBTQ Catholics". America. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023.
  8. Flynn, J.D. (18 December 2023). "The 'spirit' of 'Fiducia supplicans'". The Pillar. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023.
  9. Pullella, Philip (18 December 2023). "Vatican approves blessings for same-sex couples in landmark ruling". Reuters. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  10. "Doctrinal declaration opens possibility to bless couples in irregular situations". Vatican News. 18 December 2023. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  11. Arnold, Tyler (18 December 2023). "US Bishops: Vatican Declaration on Blessings Does Not Change Church Teaching on Marriage". Catholic News Agency. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  12. Chapp, Larry (December 19, 2023). "The DDF's "innovative" Declaration on blessings is a disaster". Catholic World Report. Archived from the original on 2023-12-21. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  13. ^ Duddy-Burke, Marianne (December 20, 2023). "Are blessings for same-sex couples the beginning of the end of anti-LGBTQ Catholic theology?". BostonGlobe.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  14. ^ Mohler, Albert (December 19, 2023). "Did Pope Francis Really Give Blessing to Same-Sex Couples? The Complicated Disaster of the News Coming Out of the Vatican". The Briefing. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  15. ^ Coppen, Luke (2023-12-19). "'Fiducia supplicans': Who's saying what?". The Pillar.
  16. Bursch, John (2023-12-19). "Pope Francis Did Not Just Authorize Priests to Bless Same-Sex Unions". National Catholic Register.
  17. Colsy, Thomas (20 December 2023). "No, the Church has not changed her doctrine on the liceity or blessing of same-sex unions". Catholic Herald.
  18. Gabriel, Pedro (2023-12-20). "Answering 7 Key Questions on Fiducia Supplicans". Where Peter Is.
  19. Minten, Dominique (2023-12-18). "Bonny tevreden dat priesters homokoppels mogen zegenen: "Helpt ons vooruit"". De Standaard (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  20. Lackner, Franz (December 19, 2023). "Lackner: Segenswunsch eines gleichgeschlechtlichen Paares nachkommen". Catholic Church in Austria. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  21. Le Bacq, Tom (2023-12-18). ""Ik ben er zeker van dat dit de paus niet overal in dank zal worden afgenomen": ook homokoppels kunnen voortaan gezegend worden". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  22. Harmon, Amy; Graham, Ruth; Nir, Sarah Maslin (2023-12-19). "Making History on a Tuesday Morning, With the Church's Blessing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2023-12-21. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  23. Drehle, David Von (2023-12-19). "Bless this pope for blessing the blessing of same-sex couples". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  24. Graham, Ruth (2023-12-18). "American Catholics Split on Pope's Blessing for Gay Couples". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  25. Philips, Aleks (2023-12-19). "Bishop Strickland Goes to War With Pope Francis". Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  26. "Communiqué of the Ukrainian Bishops' Conference on the Declaration of the Dicastery of the Faith "FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS" on the Pastoral Significance of Blessings". 2023-12-20. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  27. "Communiqué from the Superior General of the SSPX". FSSPX News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  28. "Rome: The DDF Authorizes the Blessing of Same-Sex or Unmarried Couples". 2023-12-19. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  29. Athanasius Schneider; Tomasz Peta (20 December 2023). "Archdiocese Condemns "Evil" Vatican Document and Prohibits Same-sex Blessings". OnePeterFive. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  30. Montagna, Diane (2023-12-20). "Archbishop prohibits priests from 'performing any form of blessing' of same-sex couples in response to new Vatican declaration". Catholic Herald. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  31. ""Blessings for same sex unions of any kind are not permitted in Malawi": Catholic Bishops". ACI Africa. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  32. "Biskupské konferencie po celom svete vyjadrili odmietavý postoj proti udeľovaniu požehnania homosexuálnym párom" [Episcopal conference around the world expressed rejection against conferring blessings over homosexual couples.]. Štandard (in Slovak). 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  33. "Franklin Graham Denounces Pope for Approving Blessings of Same-Sex Couples". ChristianHeadlines.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  34. ^ "Statement of USCCB on Vatican's Document Addressing Pastoral Blessings | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Archived from the original on 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  35. "Statement of CCCB on Vatican's Document Addressing Pastoral Blessings". Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Archived from the original on 2023-12-21. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  36. ^ "'Fiducia supplicans': Who's saying what?". https://www.pillarcatholic.com/. 2023-12-19. Archived from the original on 2023-12-21. Retrieved 2023-12-21. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  37. Arias, Javier (19 December 2023). "Víctor Manuel Fernández aclara que «no se bendice la unión» pero «sí se bendice la pareja para que puedan responder plenamente a la voluntad de Dios»". InfoVaticana.

External links

Categories: