Blessing services for queer people continue
Next week, queer people in Germany will once again have the opportunity to participate in a blessing service.
Some deputies of the Catholic Church are now giving same-sex couples the chance to be blessed again as part of this special day. The "big event" is to take place either exactly on May 10, 2022, or shortly before or after. The exact date will be decided by the respective parish. Those who are interested in participating should inform themselves accordingly in good time.
The Vatican is still not very enthusiastic
Already last year, a Catholic blessing service for queer people was celebrated in Germany. Interestingly, however, actions like this are forbidden according to the Vatican. According to him, it is only allowed to have sex within a marriage between a man and a woman. However, this is not a traditional prohibition that would be lived in this form for years. Rather, this view was reaffirmed only in 2021 by an official statement.
This was precisely what many people disagreed with. Many Catholics also opposed the view and thus expressed that in their opinion it is time to rethink. However, there can be no talk of giving in, i.e. of canceling the blessing services. On the contrary! Everything is just in the middle of the planning. Therefore, it now actually only remains to be seen how the Vatican will react to the renewed violation.
Action #liebegewinnt supports blessing services and thus sets a clear signal
Especially the initiative #liebegewinnt supports queer blessing services. Co-initiator is pastor Bernd Mönkebüscher. He was pleased to announce recently that even more than 60 parishes are now participating in the campaign. Thus, a queer service is organized in almost every federal state.
Especially in the larger cities, such as Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg, the influx is likely to be particularly large once again. The campaign already enjoyed impressive popularity here last year.
To show how much the initiators stand behind the action, the representative of the German Bishops' Conference, Ludger Schepers, visited a homosexual couple in Essen.
In this context, it was emphasized that it is very important that representatives of the church also deal with the stories of queer believers. Only in this way is it possible to move in the right direction.
"Legalization" despite Vatican ban?!
By the way, there is still a possibility to hold the blessing services for queer couples "legally" also in ecclesiastical terms, although the Vatican has issued an explicit ban at the current time. Because: Currently, a reform process called "Synodal Way" is being worked on.
It is precisely this that should ensure that in the future queer people can also receive their blessing in Germany. However, in order for this to work and for everything to be "in the bag," the approval of two-thirds of the German bishops is still needed. Currently, everything is still open with regard to the "legality" of the blessing services for queers.
Nevertheless, there is already a small glimmer of hope. For the first time, an Episcopal church is also taking part in the campaign. This is the Cathedral of St. Sebastian in Magdeburg. Perhaps other bishop's churches will follow? After all, this would be a wonderful proof that all people are equal before God.