German bishops are sharply divided over guidelines on blessings for same-sex couples. Some bishops support the guidelines, while others strongly oppose them. The Vatican has not yet issued a definitive statement on the matter. The disagreement reflects broader debates within the Catholic Church about LGBTQ+ inclusion.
4 months ago
German bishops are sharply divided over the implementation of guidelines for blessing same-sex couples, three months after the German Bishops' Conference and the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) published the controversial pastoral handout titled "Segen gibt der Liebe Kraft" ("Blessings Give Strength to Love") 2 3 4. A comprehensive survey by katholisch.de revealed stark divisions across the country's 27 dioceses 2 3 4.
The survey indicates three main approaches among the German dioceses. Five dioceses—Cologne, Augsburg, Eichstätt, Passau, and Regensburg—have explicitly refused to implement the German guidelines, consistently referencing the Vatican's Fiducia Supplicans as their standard 2 3 4. In contrast, eleven German dioceses have either officially endorsed the guidelines or maintain pastoral practices aligned with them 2 3 4. The remaining eleven dioceses have adopted various middle positions, expressing caution or deferring to individual pastoral discretion 2 3 4.
Significant opposition to the German handout stems from its perceived conflict with Vatican teaching. Bishop Bertram Meier of Augsburg, for instance, highlighted that while Fiducia Supplicans emphasizes that blessings should not be promoted or have a prescribed ritual, the German handout speaks of "blessing celebrations" and encourages "planned and aesthetically appealing design" with music and singing, which contradicts the Vatican's guidance for brief, spontaneous blessings 2 3 4.
The Catholic initiative Neuer Anfang ("New Beginnings") has sharply criticized the German guidelines, arguing they promote "the opposite of the stated intentions" of Pope Francis and contradict the original purpose of Fiducia Supplicans 2 3 4. This group contends that many German bishops are failing to uphold Catholic sexual ethics and are encouraging practices that exceed the Vatican document's vision 2 3 4.
Former Vatican doctrine chief Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller has delivered a scathing critique of the German implementation, comparing the situation to medieval indulgence trading, which he warned "endangered the eternal salvation of deceivers and deceived" 2 3 4. Cardinal Müller argued that, according to biblical understanding, marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman, rendering ecclesiastical blessing rites for "irregular life situations" both "ineffective before God" and a "pious fraud" towards participants 2 3 4. He has previously described Fiducia Supplicans itself as "confusing" and contradictory to prior doctrinal documents 2 3.
Despite these concerns and criticisms, several dioceses are moving forward with implementing the guidelines. The northern German dioceses of Limburg, Osnabrück, and Trier have published the guidance in their official bulletins 2 3 4. The Diocese of Würzburg is even promoting "blessing services" for same-sex couples at wedding exhibitions 2 3 4.
Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, who is also president of the German Bishops’ Conference, defended the initiative, stating that its aim is to strengthen people in partnerships "who live together in love and responsibility" 2 3 4. Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz has recommended his staff "proceed according to the handout," while the Diocese of Fulda described the document as "an important step toward a Church that is oriented to people’s life realities and respects love in all its expressions" 2 3 4.
What is the Church's teaching on same-sex unions?
The Catholic Church defines marriage as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. This understanding of marriage is rooted in divine revelation, as found in Sacred Scripture, and in natural law, which is accessible through human reason.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states 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". This definition emphasizes the dual ends of marriage: the unitive (good of the spouses) and the procreative (procreation and education of offspring).
The Church teaches that same-sex unions cannot be recognized as marriage because they lack the essential elements necessary for a valid marriage. Specifically, they are not open to the possibility of procreation, which is considered one of the fundamental purposes of marriage. Furthermore, the Church holds that sexual acts are morally legitimate only within the confines of marriage, and only when they are both unitive and procreative. Therefore, homosexual acts are considered contrary to natural law and are not morally permissible.
In a document issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, it was affirmed that "the Church does not have, and cannot have, the power to bless unions of persons of the same sex". This is because blessings are sacramentals that "imply a conformity of life with the values that they signify". Since same-sex unions are not in conformity with God's plan for marriage, they cannot be blessed by the Church.
While the Church upholds its teaching on marriage, it also emphasizes the importance of pastoral care for individuals with same-sex attraction. The Catechism states that "men and women with homosexual tendencies 'must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided'". These individuals are called to chastity, like all Christians, and are encouraged to fulfill God's will in their lives.