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Pope Francis on Monday, 18 December, allowed roman catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, however with a condition: it shouldn't resemble marriage.
The development comes after the Vatican’s doctrine office released a document elaborating on a letter sent by Francis to two cardinals, reported AP.
In the letter, Francis stated that a same-sex couple can be administered blessings if their union is not confused with the sacrament of marriage.
AP further cited the new document stating that “irregular” unions — gay or straight — are in a state of sin. However, they shouldn't be deprived of God’s love or mercy.
“Thus, when people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it,” the document added.
However, in his letter, Francis upheld that matrimony is a union between a man and a woman.
The declaration also somewhat reverses a Vatican declaration from 2021 which said that the church can't bless same-sex unions because “God cannot bless sin.”
(With inputs from AP and The New York Times.)
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