Germany Defies Rome on Same-Sex Blessings

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]Germany is stirring up controversy again.  Cardinal Reinhard Marx has formally announced structured ceremonies for blessing same-sex  couples in parts of Germany. This initiative draws partial inspiration from the 2023 Vatican  document fiducia suplicans which allowed the non-liturgical blessing for couples in irregular  situations. A blessing is in its most basic sense the invoking of God’s protection upon a person,  and in that sense anyone can receive a blessing, regardless of their sexual orientation.  However, the Vatican document clearly stated that such blessings should be spontaneous  and brief, avoiding the kind of ritualization that could lead to confusion among the  faithful about the nature of marriage, which is only possible between a man and a woman.  The guidelines that Cardinal Marx is adopting of course clearly state that these blessings  are not equivalent to a sacramental marriage, but the guidelines still propose exactly  the sort of ritualization of this blessing that could lead to the confusion the  Vatican explicitly is trying to avoid.