Catholic priests can now bless same-sex couples in Meghalaya under the Archdiocese of Shillong catering to more than 2.65 lakh Catholics.
Today, the Shillong Archdiocese of the Catholic Church in a letter to all priests, brothers, sisters and members of the church informed that it has granted permission for priests to bestow blessings upon same-sex couples, but without any type of ritual of the Church that resembles marriage rite.
“The Catholic Church issued the declaration ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ on the 18th December 2023 through The Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith and approved by Pope Francis. With this, it will be possible for a Catholic priest to bless the same-sex couples but without any type of ritual of the church that resembles a marriage rite,” said the letter signed by the Archbishop of Archdiocese of Shillong, Most Rev. Victor Lyngdoh.
“The declaration stresses on the pastoral meaning of blessings, and is a spontaneous prayer of a priest with informal words,” the Archbishop added.
However, he stressed that, “This is not to be mistaken as the official liturgical and ritual blessings of the church during marriage.”
“The declaration does not change the Catholic Doctrine of Marriage and the blessing does not signify approval of the union,” the Archbishop said.
The Vatican said on December 18 in a landmark ruling approved by Pope Francis that Roman Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular church rituals or liturgies.
According to the Vatican, said such blessings would not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all.
