Dear Parish Family,

On December 18, the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published the Declaration Fiducia Supplicans (FS), "On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings." There’s been confusion both inside and outside the Church about what this document says and means that I’d like to address in my column today. While the Declaration offered some remarks on the nature of blessings and encouraged pastors to make themselves available to those who seek blessings from the Church, the main concern regards the "possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations (i.e. invalid marriages) and same-sex couples without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church's perennial teaching on marriage" (FS, Opening Presentation). 

Most importantly, FS restates the Church's teaching on the nature of marriage as the "exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children" (4). It clarifies that the Church does not have the power to "impart blessings on unions of persons of the same sex" (5) or "confer its liturgical blessing when that would somehow offer a form of moral legitimacy to a union that presumes to be a marriage or to an extra-marital sexual practice" (11). It says that “pastoral prudence and wisdom—avoiding all serious forms of scandal and confusion among the faithful—may suggest that the ordained minister join in the prayer of those persons who, although in a union that cannot be compared in any way to a marriage, desire to entrust themselves to the Lord and his mercy, to invoke his help, and to be guided to a greater understanding of his plan of love and of truth” (30).  

FS intends to both close the door to the possibility of offering liturgical blessings for “couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex” (31), and, guided by pastoral wisdom and prudence, widen the door of God’s grace to offer spontaneous blessings outside of the liturgical rites of the Church to those who are "in situations that are morally unacceptable from an objective point of view" (26). A blessing of this kind could be offered to those who, “recognizing themselves to be destitute and in need of [God’s] 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” (31).

Again, pastoral prudence is needed in order to offer blessings in these situations in order to not give the false impression that the Church is blessing or legitimizing a way of life that is sinful or is in any way not in keeping with the Gospel call of Christ. If the request is really just to bless an immoral relationship, the priest or deacon cannot offer a blessing since doing so would hinder rather than help the persons on living Christ's call to chaste love. 

Keep in mind that the Church does not have the authority to change Christ’s teaching on marriage. FS reminds us, however, that with “untiring wisdom and motherly care, the Church welcomes all who approach God with humble hearts, accompanying them with those spiritual aids that enable everyone to understand and realize God’s will fully in their existence” (32). Remember that regardless of our state of life or status in the Church, we all receive a blessing at the end of each Mass by the Sign of the Lord's Cross with the commission to go in peace to glorify the Lord by our lives and announce the Gospel of the Lord. 

As I offer these remarks, I want to honor all those in our parish and in our Church who experience same sex attraction and all who are in an invalid marriage who strive to live a chaste and holy life according to the Gospel call of Christ. Please know that you are an amazing witness and gift to our Lord, Church, and world! God’s grace and the blessing of Holy Mother Church has always been and forever will be with you. I hope you never forget that your noble pursuit of purity inspires me and many others to be a saint. Our Church supports and accompanies you in your aspirations to holiness.

Finally, please pray for people and ministers to use the blessings of the Church as God intends, for our Pope and his counselors who are called to lead our Church, for our bishops, priests, and deacons who are entrusted with the administration of blessings at the local level, for men and women living the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Church who provide an invaluable witness to strengthen the Gospel values of family life, and for all our brothers and sisters who struggle courageously to live Christ's call to purity and holy love. Please reach out to me if you have questions or concerns after reading the Declaration. May we be open to the grace of continuing conversion as we strive to live the Gospel of Christ and His commandments of love, joy, and peace.

I am yours in Christ,
Fr. Scott Goodfellow