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December 19, 2023

Pope Francis Allows Priests to Bless Same-Sex Couples But Won't Budge on Gay Marriage
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Pope Francis has formally approved a document from the Vatican's
doctrinal office that for the first time allows priests to bless
same-sex couples, so long as the blessing does not resemble a wedding.
Advocates hailed the move as a major step toward ending the Catholic
Church's discrimination toward LGBTQ+ people, but warned the church
still holds the official position that marriage is between "a man and a
woman" - and that same-sex couples are living in "sin." Marianne
Duddy-Burke is director of Dignity USA, which focuses on LGBTQ+ rights
and the Catholic Church.

Marianne Duddy-Burke: "Obviously, for same-sex couples, sacramental
equality is what would put us on the same footing as any other Catholics
seeking recognition of their relationships. We're not there yet. This is
an important step, but it is yet another step on a journey that still
has probably miles and miles to go."



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