The Vatican’s groundbreaking ruling to bless same-sex unions has led to new clashes within the Catholic Church, a declaration that the late Pope Benedict would have been displeased to witness, according to a German cardinal.
Catholic Church Faces Internal Clashes
At a gathering marking one year since Pope Benedict’s death, a prominent figure in the Catholic Church said Benedict would never have approved the recent decree by Pope Francis that allows priests to bless same-sex couples.
Tensions Rise Over Vatican Ruling
“It never would have happened [under Benedict] because it was so ambiguous,” Cardinal Gerhard Mueller remarked to Reuters on Sunday. He made this comment during an event that commemorated the one-year anniversary of Pope Benedict’s death.
Mueller, who previously served as the Church’s doctrinal chief under Benedict, lost this position following Pope Francis’ rise to the papacy.
“No Homosexual Matrimony”
Being a prominent figure in the Catholic Church known for his strong opposition to same-sex marriage and blessing homosexual couples, Mueller reaffirmed his stance, stating, “There is no homosexual matrimony. It does not exist, it cannot exist, despite ideologies we have (today).”
Church Not a “Soviet Union”
Despite having a “very good” personal relationship with Pope Francis, Mueller made it clear that he doesn’t hesitate to publicly voice disagreements on doctrinal matters, remarking, “We are not in the Soviet Union where only one leader has a say.”
Groundbreaking Declaration
Issued on December 18, the landmark declaration clarified that blessings for same-sex couples must not mirror the sacrament of matrimony between a man and a woman and should not be incorporated into rituals or liturgies.
Vatican: Love and Mercy for All
In its latest policy release, the Vatican declared, “People seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to ‘an exhaustive moral analysis’ to receive it.”
Case-by-Case Approach in Church Blessings
According to the declaration, priests are advised to make decisions on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that “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”.
Announcement Sparks LGBT Hope
As a result of the novel policies in this recent Vatican announcement, some advocates pushing for more LGBT inclusion view this as a potential stepping stone towards the acceptance of same-sex marriage within the Church.
Papal Tribute to Benedict’s Service
While delivering his Sunday blessing to the assembly in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis took a moment to commemorate the anniversary, stating that Benedict had “served the Church with love and wisdom” and that “We feel so much affection, so much gratitude, so much admiration for him.”
Historic Resignation
Following his mention of the anniversary, Pope Francis requested the crowd to applaud Benedict, who made history as the first pope in 700 years to resign instead of serving for life.
His resignation at the age of 85 was due to declining health.
Pre-Papacy Theological Career
Before his papacy, Benedict had a notable career as a theologian and as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
His tenure as pope was marked by several challenges, including a decline in vocations and church attendance, intense debates about the church’s direction, and dealing with the fallout from the late 1990s scandal involving sexual abuse by priests.
Emotional Memorial Mass
In an emotional homily at St. Peter’s Basilica, Gaenswein, who served as Benedict’s secretary, commemorated the late pope with a memorial Mass. He reflected on Benedict’s ten years as “pope emeritus” and its impact on the conservative-progressive divide within the Church, noting that some staunch traditionalists didn’t accept Francis as leader.
Gaenswein shared that Benedict believed he had only a year to live when he resigned. He expressed his conviction that Benedict will be canonized, saying, “I pray he will be a saint. I wish he will be a saint. And I am convinced he will be a saint.”
Upholding Benedict’s Legacy
Mueller’s adamant refusal to endorse same-sex blessings reflects his belief in upholding the legacy of the late Pope Benedict and his teachings. He asserted, “The best thing we can do for the pope is always to be close to the Catholic truth and faith and not to be here as adulators.”
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