Whether It Is the Case That Pope Francis Approves of Blessing the Unions of Same Sex Couples?
By Q
Objection 1. It seems that Pope Francis approves of blessing the unions of same sex couples. For in his response to the second Dubia, he says “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.” By this, it can be understood to mean that the pastor blesses the union, though does not institute the sacrament of marriage, for this is done only for the couples of the opposing sexes.
Objection 2. Further, it seems that by allowing for the blessing of same sex unions, the Church will fall into grievous error on the nature of same-sex unions and allow for the sacrament of marriage to be given to the same same-sex unions as well as those of opposing sexes.
On the contrary, the Church continues to teach that "The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." (CCC 1601). The Pope cannot lead the church into grave error. For the Lord says, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” And this is again affirmed by the Church, when it proclaims “Divine assistance is also given to the successors of the apostles, teaching in communion with the successor of Peter, and, in a particular way, to the bishop of Rome, pastor of the whole Church, when, without arriving at an infallible definition and without pronouncing in a "definitive manner," they propose in the exercise of the ordinary Magisterium a teaching that leads to better understanding of Revelation in matters of faith and morals.” (CCC 892). Therefore, Pope Francis could not teach contrary to the deposit of faith, even if this response is not said ex cathedra.
I answer that, it is in fact not the case that Pope Francis approved the blessings of the unions of same sex couples. For he said that “the Church avoids any type of rite or sacramental that might contradict this conviction and suggest that something that is not marriage is recognized as marriage.”, and that marriage is only “an exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman”. This means that the blessing suggested cannot be one of the union itself, and is instead affirmed to be “a plea to God for help, a supplication to live better.”
Therefore, when one or more persons in a same sex union seek to be blessed, the blessing given is not to the union itself, but for the purposes of instilling chastity within the person(s). I say again, the union is in no one way positively correlated to the blessing, but instead the blessing runs contrary to the union, assuming that the union is one opposed to the church’s teaching on marriage.
Reply to Objection 1. As has just been shown, Pope Francis is not indicating a blessing of the union, but rather of the persons who are the subject of the union. This also answers objection 2, as it only holds water if the blessing is given for the union, not for the persons in question. For if the practice of exorcism does not lead the church to error and the acceptance of the power of demons, then the practice of blessings for chastity will not lead the church to error and the acceptance of distorted forms of marriage.