
Bishop Andrew Cozzens
CV News Feed // In light of the Vatican’s recent declaration on blessings and in what way same-sex couples can receive them, dioceses across the United States have released statements, both attempting to explain the declaration to local Catholics and sharing how it would be implemented at a local level.
On Monday, the Vatican announced that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith issued a declaration, Fiducia Supplicans, on the pastoral meaning of blessings. The document quickly caused a frenzy in both the Catholic and secular press as it said that same-sex couples could receive blessings.
“Within the horizon outlined here appears the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex, the form of which should not be fixed ritually by ecclesial authorities to avoid producing confusion with the blessing proper to the Sacrament of Marriage,” reads the document.
Multiple bishops responded to questions about the declaration from the clergy and the media with various statements. Bishops took various approaches to responding to the documents. Some, like Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, praised the Vatican’s decision and said that it would be implemented in Chicago.
“Here in the Archdiocese of Chicago, we welcome this declaration, which will help many more in our community feel the closeness and compassion of God,” wrote Cupich.
Cupich, as did all the other bishops, affirmed that the declaration does not permit same-sex unions and that the blessings must take place in a non-liturgical setting.
Bishop Andrew Cozzens, the bishop of Crookston, Minnesota, clarified the Vatican’s position, saying that the Church cannot bless same-sex unions, only individuals.
“Although it is impossible for us to bless a same-sex union, since any sexual union outside of the marriage of one man and one woman is contrary to the Gospel, we may bless individuals who are not yet living in full accord with the Gospel, even those in a same-sex union,” wrote Cozzens. “This is not a marriage blessing and should never be done in a liturgical or ceremonial way, which would give the false idea of blessing a union contrary to the Gospel.”
Bishop David J. Walkowiak, the bishop of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Cozzens, and other bishops empathized that these blessings could not take place in the context of the liturgy. Walkowiak said that priests must conduct these blessings in private settings, in accordance with the declaration.
“The declaration does not provide, nor does it allow, liturgical blessings (which are public, regulated, and formally approved by the Church) for couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples,” said Walkowiak. “It does, however, encourage private prayers for such persons seeking God’s grace and the ability to follow him faithfully.”
Walkowiak noted that the declaration did not change church teaching or doctrine, but simply restated a practice already allowed.
“These spontaneous, private prayers and blessings are given routinely,” said Walkowiak. “They are nothing new. The declaration reaffirms an appropriate pastoral response to people who express a request for these prayers.”
Other bishops responded to the declaration through media requests, releasing statements to various media outlets. Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph emphasized in a statement to Fox 4 News that the DDF’s declaration did not change the church’s teachings on marriage.
“It is inaccurate to say that the Catholic Church is now approving or validating same-sex unions or unions that are outside of marriage. The declaration makes allowance for ministers to bless people in these difficult situations so that they may be assisted by God’s grace along the path of conversion and salvation,” said Johnston.
At least one diocese declined to comment on the declaration and how it would be implemented, saying that the bishop was waiting on clarification from the Vatican.
“The Diocese of Wichita will respectfully decline to comment as we learn more about the doctrinal declaration issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith,” the Diocese of Wichita told Channel 12 News.
Most bishops shared that they saw the Vatican’s declaration not as an attempt to change church teaching but as a way for all people to readily receive God’s mercy and blessings and be called to conversion.
“The truth is, we are all sinners, and all of us need God’s blessing to come to repentance and conversion. Often at Holy Mass, we tell people who are not able to receive Holy Communion because they are living in a situation that is objectively outside of Jesus’ commandments that they should come for a blessing,” wrote Cozzens.
“This reception of the blessing expresses a humble desire to grow in conversion, to seek his help to overcome sin, to seek holiness, which is the goal of every Christian life,” he said.
