The Vatican will allow same-sex couples to be blessed: what will change for LGBT people

The Vatican allowed to bless LGBT people, but this does not mean recognition of marriage/Getty Images

The Catholic Church still does not recognize LBBT couples. However, recently it has been gradually moving towards liberalizing its attitude.

On October 3, the Pope said that the church could begin to bless same-sex couples and he was supposedly ready for that. But still, LGBT people will not have the right to marriage, because the church considers it a relationship only between a man and a woman.

What does it mean blessing for LGBT people

Pope Francis has approved the right to the pastoral meaning of blessings. This means that the Catholic Church will bless those who “do not live by the standards of Christian moral doctrine, but humbly ask to be blessed.”.

Can same-sex couples get married

However, such a blessing does not mean either marriage or wedding. There is no place for LGBT people in the Church's “eternal teaching on marriage” and blessings for them should not be even remotely similar to marriage rituals.

The doctrine of marriage does not change, a blessing does not mean approval of the union, they write in the Vatican.

They call LGBT couples “irregular” and they are allowed only “spontaneous blessings, more similar to gestures of popular piety.” there was “confusion”. Like, one should not confuse what is a marriage and what contradicts it.

Why then was the blessing allowed, if not recognize marriage

The Vatican interprets the blessing as a request to God for help.

Although (LGBT – Channel 24) are in a union that is in no way comparable to marriage, they are willing to entrust themselves to the Lord and his mercy, to call upon him for help in order to be guided to a better understanding of his design of love and truth, it says explanation.

Due to possible “confusion”, the blessing will never be performed at the same time as the civil wedding rites. But it can be obtained during a visit to a shrine, a meeting with a priest, or prayer. Thus The Vatican seeks to protect its priests from a possible scandal if they accidentally recognize an LGBT union as a marriage.

Even the Catholic Church is becoming softer, and in Russia LGBT people are considered extremists

• Earlier, the Vatican explained that they may whether transgender people should be godparents and witnesses at a wedding.
• At the same time, LGBT people were banned in Russia, calling it an extremist movement. Activists who stand up for their rights could face up to 10 years in prison.