IN SUMMARY
- Pope Francis responds to a set of questions sent to him
- The pope hints on openness to bless same sex unions
- The Pope’s response appears to contradict his statement in March,
Pope Francis has responded to five Dubia that were sent to him last July by Cardinals Walter Brandmüller and Raymond Leo Burke supported by three other Cardinals, Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, Robert Sarah, and Joseph Zen Ze-kiun.
Dubia
Dubia are questions brought before the pope and the appropriate Vatican office that seek a simple “yes” or “no” response in order to clarify disputed matters of Catholic teaching and practice
Pope’s response to same sex unions
In the shared dubia, they challenged him to reinforce traditional Catholic teaching on same-sex marriage and other thorny issues, such as women’s ordination.
In his response the Pope has called for the clergy to show “pastoral charity,” including “kindness, patience, understanding, tenderness, and encouragement.”
‘’there are situations that are not morally acceptable from an objective point of view, adding that the same pastoral charity requires us not to simply treat as “sinners” other people whose guilt or responsibility may be mitigated by various factors affecting subjective accountability’’ read partially the response shared
Pope Francis said there may be “forms of blessing, requested by one or more persons” that could be granted on an occasional basis.
‘’Therefore, pastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of blessing, requested by one or more persons, that do not convey a mistaken concept of marriage. For when a blessing is requested, it is expressing a plea to God for help, a supplication to live better, a trust in a Father who can help us live better.’’ Further read the response
The Pope’s response appears to contradict his statement in March, when he said the Church could not bless same-sex unions, because they could “not bless sin.”
