"Pope's Historic Approval of Same-Sex Blessings Signals a Shift in Catholic Church"

Pope Francis has formally approved the blessing of same-sex unions by Catholic priests, marking a significant shift in policy aimed at inclusivity while maintaining the church's ban on gay marriage. The Vatican's document emphasizes that these blessings should not be confused with marriage rituals and must not be tied to specific Catholic celebrations or civil union ceremonies. It also states that requests for such blessings should not be denied, as people seeking a transcendent relationship with God should not be held to an impossible moral standard. While some LGBTQ+ advocates see this as a positive step, others argue that it reinforces the idea that gay couples are inferior to heterosexual partnerships. The Vatican maintains its stance that marriage is between a man and a woman and that homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered."