Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 5, 2024 / 14:56 pm (CNA).
Nine bishops from France have instructed priests in their dioceses that they may bless homosexual individuals but should refrain from blessing same-sex couples, following new Vatican guidelines that permit nonliturgical pastoral blessings of homosexual couples.
The Archdiocese of Rennes, which is led by Archbishop Pierre d’Ornellas, issued the statement on Jan. 1 on behalf of the bishops from the Ecclesiastical Province of Rennes.
“In our society where marriage has been trivialized by becoming a notion of civil law which ignores the founding specificity of sexual difference, we have the mission to affirm in a prophetic way,” the bishops said, “the great beauty of the design of God who created the human being, man and woman.”
“In this context,” the statement continued, “it is therefore right, as the declaration underlines, not to contribute to creating ‘confusion’ (p. 4, 5, 30, 31, 39) or ‘scandal’ (p. 30, 39). This is why it is appropriate to bless spontaneously, individually, each of the two people forming a couple, whatever their sexual orientation, who ask God’s blessing with humility and with the desire to conform more and more to his holy will.”
The publication of the Vatican declaration Fiducia Supplicans has been the subject of conflicting interpretations, with some bishops in Africa and Eastern Europe banning the proposed blessings in their jurisdictions while others have characterized the document as an affirmation of their push for change.
The French bishops asserted that Fiducia Supplicans does not mandate the blessing of homosexual couples but rather allows for their “possibility” depending on priests and bishops’ discernment that such blessings will not cause scandal or confusion about the Church’s position on marriage.
“The declaration thus indicates criteria for discernment: humility and the desire to accomplish God’s will,” the French bishops said.
The bishops took issue with the declaration’s emphasis on allowing blessings for “couples.”
Fiducia Supplicans, they wrote, “does not explain the reasoning which moves it from ‘persons’ to ‘couples.’”
“The word ‘couple,’” the bishops said, “has a particular meaning which deserves explanation [from the Vatican].”
“More than in the past, in our secularized society which has lost understanding of the admirable significance of sexual difference, marriage is seen as a response to God’s call. It is a vocation,” they went on.
“Let us be happy to place ourselves with charity at the service of couples who are preparing for marriage or who are married. Let us carefully accompany those who struggle, those who forget or no longer know how to take care of their love,” the statement continued.
The bishops from Rennes said their decision to forbid blessings of homosexual couples is in line with the declaration’s instruction to avoid any confusion and scandal.
They cited an excerpt from Fiducia Supplicans that states that “rites and prayers which could create confusion between what constitutes marriage […] and what contradicts it are inadmissible.”
They argued that the declaration “provides guidance so that confusion is avoided at all costs” and the “understanding of marriage, which is only between a man and a woman according to God’s design, is preserved.”
“The declaration makes an unambiguous discernment,” the bishops went on, quoting another portion of Fiducia Supplicans that says the ‘Church does not have the power to confer its liturgical blessing when it can, in a certain way, offer a form of moral legitimacy to a union which presents itself as a marriage or extramarital sexual practice.’”
“This clarifies the debates within certain local Churches, particularly European or American, which pit those who practice liturgical blessings of same-sex couples against those who forbid it,” the bishops said. “Indeed, for the liturgical blessing to be given, ‘it must be ensured that things, places, or events are not contrary to the law or the spirit of the Gospel.’”
The statement was signed by d’Ornellas, head of the ecclesiastical province, as well as Bishop Raymond Centène of Vannes, Bishop Emmanuel Delmas of Angers, Bishop Laurent Dognin of Quimper, Bishop François Jacolin of Luçon, Bishop Denis Moutel of Saint-Brieuc, Bishop Laurent Percerou of Nantes, Bishop Jean-Pierre Vuillemin of Le Mans, Auxiliary Bishop Jean Bondu of Rennes, and Father Frédéric Foucher, diocesan administrator of Laval.
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Wonderful. St. Joan of Arc, pray for these Bishops of France as they fight for the Truth of Christ.
As they should. As ALL bishops should. And it doesn’t matter what anyone else says on the matter. Period.
Dear Father Calloway,
I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your Christian witness. I’ve sent copies of your books to a correctional facility and I know Our Lord’s been using those to help change hearts.
Thank you and God bless you!
Despite Germanic amnesia, the Catholic memory in the Eldest Daughter of the Church goes back at least as far as Cardinal Erdo from Hungary, who in 2015 introduced the second half of the Synod on the Family:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/32772/full-text-of-cardinal-erdos-introductory-report-for-the-synod-on-the-family
Among his remarks:
“There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family. Nevertheless, men and women with a homosexual tendency ought to be received with respect and sensitivity.”
What a refreshing change and I’ve no doubt a divine influence.
It is so rare that I am compelled to say Viva La France, especially in connection with spiritual matters.
Homosexual “union” is a oxymoron. It is also a deliberate defiance of the Creator. (“Male and female he made them.”)
Sfiducia Supplicans is not Catholic in practice. It is more pandering than pastoral. “God’s style” is revealed in the charity of Christ. Christ never enabled anyone to stay in a sinful lifestyle because He wants everyone to be united to His perfection.
May many more take such measures to clarify the ambiguity of the document and to separate out the individual. Only individual blessings should be given, never two at same time or even in the presence of the other-just like confessions.
The present state of the Church is much like that of England in the 17th century when Queen Elizabeth I intentionally muddied teaching and practice in an attempt to make everyone happy and stay united: Catholic and Protestant. The Anglican Church has never recovered. The Church must not follow this path!!!
Excommunicated!
Chi e?
I’m being facetious, I believe is the word, per recent events for the poor soul who spoke back.
Excellent news to hear, especially from a liberal, environmentalist country.
“This is why it is appropriate to bless spontaneously, individually, each of the two people forming a couple, whatever their sexual orientation…” There you have it. Even without realizing it, the French bishops have validated the idea that two people engaging in immoral sexual practices with each other constitute a “couple,” and that with all “couples,” it is merely a question of proper “orientation.” So while believing themselves to be defenders of orthodoxy, their declaration does in fact undermine Catholic teaching. This is exactly the type of confusion Bergoglio wishes to introduce, so that everyone may perceive Catholic teaching according to his own tastes.
W have read of bishops in Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and now France, declining to bless same sex couples/unions. When, oh when, will our American bishops stand up and be counted as supporters of Catholic teaching? Is there only one Joseph Strickland and one Cardinal Burke? Where are the others?
Didn’tThinkSo above – France isn’t Germany. There’s hope for France, I believe.
“It is appropriate to bless spontaneously, individually, [those] with the desire to conform more and more to his holy will.” The desire to conform more and more to his holy will is the sine qua non by which a blessing has justification for the sinful person.
Although the African bishops, even those of French speaking former French colonies seem adamant in their refusal to permit a blessing to homosexuals [unless converted]. In the end due to the ambiguity attached to the blessings the African Church may be right. Also we should keep in mind this is only 9 bishops out of approx 120 in France.
What do you mean by (“ unless converted”). Homosexual orientation is thought to be something that one has little or no control over. If one does not allow themselves to act out physical urges, no conversion is necessary and likely not even possible. Chastity is required of all who are outside of traditional marriage no matter what their sexual orientation may be. It is NOT sinful to be homosexual; but homosexul intimacy IS sinful. We must make these distinctions.
I plan to get a spontaneous blessing after Mass today as an individual in a regular union, assuming that is still licit.