TRANSCRIPT
In a landmark ruling approved by Pope Francis, the Vatican has announced Roman Catholic priests are now able to administer blessings to same-sex couples.
But the decision is conditional - as it's only allowed as long as the couple are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies.
A document from the Vatican explains such blessings will not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all.
It goes on to clarify it should in no way be confused with the sacrament of heterosexual marriage.
In the United States, there've been mixed reactions to the announcement.
VOXPOP 1: "Long overdue. You know if Jesus said love was love, then love is love, isn't it? We've been together 41 years."
VOXPOP 2: “I think that's a great step forward. I think that's wonderful news, to be honest. I think that's awesome.”
VOXPOP 3: “I think it's okay because I would want, I would want to be blessed by a priest because I am with a woman and I would say, go for it.”
VOXPOP 4: “We just, the Bible just says that it’s not - that you shouldn’t do that. So yeah.”
VOXPOP 5: “I think that people should be more focused on going to church and worshiping God.”
In October, Pope Francis hinted an official change was in the works in response to questions put forward by five conservative cardinals.
While that response was more nuanced, the new eight-page document has spelled out specific situations.
The document states priests should decide to bless a same-sex couple on a case-by-case basis and should not prevent the Church's closeness to people.
It also says the blessing should not be linked to or timed with a civil marriage ceremony and be performed with none of the clothing, gestures, or words that are proper to a wedding.
Father James Martin is a prominent American Jesuit priest who ministers to the LGBTIQ+ community.
He has welcomed the ruling.
“I think it makes sense that they wouldn't want to confuse people to make it seem like the church was approving same sex marriages. We're not doing marriage rights. But it really is something that a lot of same sex couples have been asking for just some sort of pastoral accompaniment from from priests and deacons and bishops and it's a huge step forward. And it really is the first time that this door has been opened in any way to same sex couples. So it's a really historic day.”
The Catholic Church teaches same-sex attraction is not sinful but homosexual acts are.
Since Pope Francis was elected in 2013, he has tried to make the more than 1.35 billion member Church more welcoming to LGBTIQ+ people without changing moral doctrine.
But not everyone is impressed with this development.
Spokesman for LGBTIQ+ Christian association Paths of Hope, Andrea Rubera, says although it's a step in the right direction, it's conditional acceptance.
“On the one hand the term 'same-sex couples' is correctly mentioned, on the other hand the term 'irregular couples' is used. Different stakes are put in place to say it is not a marriage, it is nothing that can be compared to a marriage between a man and a woman. For those like us, homosexuals etc., who live their condition as a couple this is obviously not acceptable in an absolute sense, but we recognise that it is a great step forward.”
David Jobin is from the Our Fund Foundation, a group which aims to advance L-G-B-T-I-Q-plus causes in the United States.
“You know, as a 60-year-old man who has wrestled with the institution of of Christianity in all its forms throughout my whole life, you know, it's a frustration. It's a frustration that this small step, we're somehow celebrating. Like we're somehow more valued today because of a decision that one person made. It's not enough.”
The ruling is expected to be opposed by conservatives, who criticised the pope when he made his initial comments on the subject in October.
SBS contacted the Australian Catholic Bishops Association - who declined to provide a comment.
