Head of German Bishops Conference says church can bless gay couples. US catholic news distort story

[bobbieinok]

Last edited Thu Feb 8, 2018, 12:18 AM - Edit history (1)

NOTE. Replaced SS with gay. Just wasn't thinking.

Several posts about this today at William Lindsey's blog bilgrimage.blogspot.com

German news media demanded US catholic media correct their translation. New US story STILL leaves out key statement and in so doing twists bishop's message.

Seems to be major rift between German and US Catholic leaders.

German statement seems to be a major break with Razinger et al views on SS couples.

[pnwmom]

1. Here's an article with more info about German Bishops blessing same-sex couples. :)

https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/top-german-cardinal-signals-cautious-support-blessing-same-sex-couples

One of Roman Catholicism’s most influential cardinals has signaled cautious support for Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, indicating movement on the issue after he and other German Catholic leaders opposed the legalization of "marriage for all" last year.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the archbishop of Munich, said in a radio interview Saturday (Feb. 3) that the Catholic Church must find pastoral ways to respond to the challenges of changing societal views and should be welcoming to gay people who seek its spiritual guidance.

Marx stopped short of a full endorsement of blessings for same-sex couples, which would be difficult in a church that opposes gay marriage as unnatural and does not now officially bless these couples. But his positive comments made it clear he was open to approving such benedictions in private ceremonies.

Two German bishops have recently come out in favor of blessing same-sex couples and urged the church to consider allowing the practice. Marx, as head of the national bishops' conference, is the top Catholic prelate in Germany.

[Initech]

2. Same! I assumed something entirely different!

[helmedon1974]

3. Yeah, I think that needs to be clarified, lol

[bobbieinok]

4. You might want to check Bill's posts. NCR may be going with uncorrected translation.

I got the impression from Lindsey's posts that the German bishop's statement was more positive than NCR excerpt suggests to me.

[pnwmom]

5. I guess I'm old enough that that looked unusually positive to me.

Especially:

Cardinal Reinhard Marx . . . his positive comments made it clear he was open to approving such benedictions in private ceremonies.

Two German bishops have recently come out in favor of blessing same-sex couples and urged the church to consider allowing the practice. Marx, as head of the national bishops' conference, is the top Catholic prelate in Germany.

[bobbieinok]

6. I didn't read the NCR article, so I'll defer to your opinion.