Another mutiny. This time it comes from the episcopate of Belarus which collectively informs the Vatican and Pope Francis that it will not follow the highly contested document Fiducia Supplicans. «We will not bless any gay couple». In a statement released these days and published on the official website, the reasons that led the Belarusian bishops to take a step back are explained.
In the document they first explain that the Declaration signed by the Pope reaffirms that there is «no change in the traditional Catholic doctrine of marriage between a man and a woman», and that there is no permission to sanctify homosexual unions. However, they add that the text issued by the Dicastery of the Faith, although not changing «the eternal teaching of the Church on marriage and sexual morality» will not be put into practice «in the part concerning the possibility of blessing couples living in an irregular union and same-sex couples as proposed by the Declaration».
The Belarusian Conference then reminds priests and deacons that a non-liturgical blessing can certainly be given to all people who request it. Even to individual gays. «However, it is necessary to avoid imparting the blessing specifically to couples living a so-called civil marriage, as well as to those living a canonically invalid marriage or same-sex couples. Such a blessing can be perceived by other believers as a consent to sin».
Of course, the bishops emphasize that gays have the right to have a merciful and respectful treatment in the hope that they repent and can embark on a path of holiness.
In Europe, the episcopal conferences that have taken a step back, in addition to the bishops of Belarus, are several starting from Poland, France, Hungary and Greece. There has never been a document like the Fiducia Supplicans capable of splitting and dividing the Church in this way before.
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