German Catholic priests challenge Rome to offer blessings to same-sex couples

0


[ad_1]

During the ceremony, Father Mönkebüscher walked around the nave, approaching couples seated in pairs, socially distanced and masked. They stood up as he put a hand on their shoulders and pronounced a blessing while lowering his head. After a lesbian couple received their blessing, they dropped their masks and shared a kiss, wiping away their tears.

Not everyone was receptive to the initiative. A parish in Bavaria received threats from members of an arch-conservative Roman Catholic group and had to call the police to ensure the safety of those attending their ceremony.

The initiative is the latest tension between the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church in Germany. Many parishioners in Germany have left the church, including those frustrated by what they see as an outdated approach to sexual morality and a failure to punish priests accused of child abuse.

According to official statistics, 272,771 people officially left the Church in 2019, a record number that helped galvanize bishops’ efforts to discuss with the Church a range of issues they believed were contributing to the loss. of members. Among them were the role of women in the church, its teachings on sexual morality, priestly celibacy, and clerical power structures.

In 2019, they began a series of talks on these topics, discussions of which would be banned in church in many other countries. Talks were supposed to take place between worshipers and church leaders for two years, but were extended due to restrictions on gatherings that were introduced last year when the pandemic struck. They are now due to continue until February 2022.

Among those leaving the Church in Germany, there are many same-sex couples, who are tired of feeling that they are not accepted for who they are, said Reverend Reinhard Kleinewiese, who held a blessing at St. Mary’s Church in Germany. the western town of Ahlen on Sunday evening. Ten couples are present, all heterosexual.

“We cannot ignore the fact that many same-sex couples have already left the church. There are many who no longer come, ”said Father Kleinewiese. “Nonetheless, it is good and important for this situation and beyond, we make it clear that we do not agree with Rome on certain issues and prohibitions.”

Gaia Pianigiani contributed reporting from Siena, Italy.

[ad_2]

Share.

Comments are closed.