Pope Francis has addressed the controversy over his stance on same-sex couples.
The Pope explained that he allowed the blessings of individuals but not on same-sex unions.
Fox News reports that the Pope was asked about a seeming change to Vatican policy when he approved the blessings of Catholics in same-sex unions in a conversation with CBS ’60 Minutes’.
“Last year you decided to allow Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples,” CBS ’60 Minutes’ anchor Norah O’Donnell said. “That’s a big change. Why?”
“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,” the Pope said, in remarks translated into English.
“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!”
Recall that the Pope allowed blessings for same-sex couples in a document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust).
The news made waves around the world, with some gay Catholics viewing it as a welcome alteration after previously feeling alienated by Church teachings.
The development then caused widespread debate in the Catholic Church, with particularly strong resistance coming from African bishops.