In an interview with Norah O’Donnell for 60 Minutes, Pope Francis corrected her and clarified the matter of blessing those in same-sex unions as promulgated in the document Fiducia Supplicans.

O’Donnell asked Pope Francis, “Last year you decided to allow Catholics priests to bless same-sex couples. That’s a big change. Why?”

Pope Francis corrected her and replied, “No, what I allowed was not to bless the union. That cannot be done because that is not the sacrament. I cannot. The Lord made it that way. But to bless each person, yes. The blessing is for everyone. For everyone. To bless a homosexual-type union, however, goes against the given right, against the law of the Church. But to bless each person, why not? The blessing is for all. Some people were scandalized by this. But why? Everyone! Everyone!”

Francis spoke in his native Spanish through an interpreter, and the Vatican has since corrected where it translated Francis as saying, “goes against the given right” to “goes against the natural law.”

Francis has provided clarification on the matter before. He has insisted that the blessings are for the individual persons, and not for the union. It is not possible to bless a same-sex union, because such unions are contrary to natural law and to God’s revealed will for married love.

Even still, the document caused a great deal of confusion and consternation, especially among those Catholics who hold dearly to the teaching of the Church on marriage. African bishops protested and said they would not allow their priests to implement the practice, saying it “would cause confusion and would be in direct contradiction to the cultural ethos of African communities.” The Coptic Orthodox Church, which had been in dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, opted to suspend that dialogue because of what they called the Catholic Church’s “change of position on homosexuality.” The secular press, and even some of the Catholic press, misrepresented the document with headlines and articles announcing that Francis had now given permission to bless same-sex couples. One such headline read, “Pope Francis allows blessings of couples in same-sex relationships.” LGBTQ+ activists and allies were elated with the document.

Of course, some priests, as is to be expected, attempt to exploit the document by simply going all-out in blessing same-sex unions, one priest even referring to two women he was blessing as “holy spouses” in a ceremony that was planned beforehand, took place in a Catholic church where priestly vestments were worn, and involved the exchange of rings. In other words, having every bit the look of a wedding. The priest said that, after viewing the video of the ceremony, he realized his error and has apologized for any confusion he caused. Of course, priests in Germany have been blessing same-sex couples for some time now. But that’s Germany.

What does the document actually say? Regarding same-sex couples, it says that priests may extend, “a blessing that descends from God upon those who — recognizing themselves to be destitute and in need of his help — do not claim a legitimation of their own status, but who beg that all that is true, good, and humanly valid in their lives and their relationships be enriched, healed, and elevated by the presence of the Holy Spirit” (emphasis added). The declaration goes on to say, “One should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation,” but also, “At the same time, one should not prevent or prohibit the Church’s closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God’s help through a simple blessing.” The declaration goes on to recommend, “In a brief prayer preceding this spontaneous blessing, the ordained minister could ask that the individuals have peace, health, a spirit of patience, dialogue, and mutual assistance — but also God’s light and strength to be able to fulfill his will completely” (emphasis added). So, there is nothing to prevent a priest or deacon responding to the request of a same-sex couple for a blessing to instruct them that he is permitted to bless them as individuals but not their union and, in the context of that blessing, call on God to encourage and enlighten them to live the gospel as revealed to the Church in all manner of their lives.

It ought to go without saying, but prolly needs to be said, that such blessings are intended for all “couples in an irregular situation,” including heterosexual couples who are living together without the benefit of marriage, and Catholics who have divorced and remarried without the benefit of an annulment.

The Church desires to bless individuals who come to her for help in becoming closer to God. That’s not a bad thing.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.