Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne has said he regards the blessing of homosexual couples as a theme for the Synod on Synodality in the autumn.
At the same time, he defended his decision to forbid an individual priest in his diocese to conduct such ceremonies. However, he also expressed sympathy for same-sex couples who feel a deep desire for a Church blessing.
The question of the blessing of homosexual relationships must be clarified at the level of the Universal Church, the Archdiocese of Cologne said in response to an enquiry from Germany’s Catholic News Agency (KNA).
The issue would be discussed at the Vatican’ Bishops Synod in autumn, according to the preparatory document for the Synod’s General Assembly, the archdiocese said. “The archbishop has already made it clear that the archdiocese of Cologne – if the Universal Church should adopt a different attitude – would naturally follow this.”
Woelki was commenting on the announcement of an initiative from within his archdiocese to offer another “blessing service for all loving couples” on September 10, despite Woelki’s ban.
After a first service of this kind in March, the priest had received a form of rebuke and had been forbidden to repeat such a ceremony. “Otherwise I’m risking my existence”, he told the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper.
The new planned service is being organised by a “Working Group Rainbow Church for all” and is to be held in a protestant “cultural church”.
Such blessings are also held in other locations in the archdiocese. In the specific case, however, a complaint was lodged with the Vatican’ Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, which Cardinal Woelki had asked for comment.
In response to the ban, another blessing service in front of Cologne Cathedral is planned for September 20. Under Catholic doctrine, Catholic priests are not allowed to bless same-sex couples who ask for religious recognition of their union.
In the Synodal Path reform project on the future of the Catholic Church in Germany, the majority of participants voted for the possibility of blessing ceremonies for homosexual couples. Woelki abstained from the vote.
Originally reported by KNA Germany.
