Pope Francis approval for priests to bestow blessings upon same-sex couples, a landmark decision for the LGBTQ+ community within the Roman Catholic Church has stirred mixed reactions among Christians.

It was reported that the head of the Roman Catholic Church noted that, in some cases, priests ought to be able to bless same-sex and “irregular” couples.

A document from the Vatican’s doctrinal office approved by Pope Francis on Monday states that such blessings would not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all.

It says, “the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex” but “this blessing should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union, and not even in connection with them”.

It added that priests should decide on a case-by-case basis and “should not prevent or prohibit the Church’s closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God’s help through a simple blessing”.

Many individuals have expressed their disapproval of the decision on blessing same-sex couples. Criticism has emerged on various social media platforms, particularly on Twitter with Nigerians voicing their concerns regarding the approval of LGBTQ+ community within the Roman Catholic Church.

Defending the Pope’s statement, Fr Oguchukwu wrote, “HAS POPE FRANCIS CHANGED THE CHURCH’S TEACHING ABOUT MARRIAGE?

There has been a whole lot of confusion since the publication of Vatican Document “Fiducia supplicans” in which Pope Francis said that priests can bless same-sex couples. The confusion is quite anticipated and understandable because the topic of same-sex union is a sensitive one.

But here is the thing. All the laws and regulations in the Catholic Church may be divided into three kinds: 1) Those that the Church has no power to change, never has changed and never will change; 2) Those that she has the authority to change, but most probably never will change; 3) Those that she can change, has changed, and may change again according to the circumstances of a given period of time.

Under the first type of laws, there are two kinds of laws that the Catholic Church has no authority to change or tamper with in any way, that she never has changed and never will change. They are natural moral laws and positive divine laws.

A good example of natural moral laws is the Church’s teaching regarding marriage as a union between a man and a woman. As a natural moral law, this teaching is universal, unchanging, and unchangeable. Over such laws, the Catholic Church headed by the Pope, has no authority other than that of manifesting how clearly they stand out in human nature and reiterating them to the end of time. She does not consider such matters open to change/dispute or subject to the votes of a majority of the people, because God has decided these things once and for all in the act of creation.

So, if you think that blessing of same-sex couples will lead to the eventual endorsement and approval of same-sex marriage by the Catholic Church, I want to tell you that such will never happen without the Church running into the risks of schism. Same-sex marriages are sinful and can never be approved. But then, while the Church rejects same-sex union and considers it disordered, she does not condemn same-sex couples.”