Some Catholic bishops say they will not follow the Vatican’s new direction on allowing blessings for same-sex couples.

In an extraordinary pushback against Pope Francis, some Catholic bishops in Africa, Poland and elsewhere say they will not implement the new Vatican policy allowing blessings for same-sex couples.

Others downplayed the policy approved this week by Francis as merely reaffirming the Vatican’s long-standing teaching about marriage being only a union between a man and a woman.

The reactions show how polarizing the issue remains and how Francis’ decade-long effort to make the church a more welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community continues to spark resistance among traditionalist and conservative Catholic leaders.

Some of the strongest responses came from bishops in Africa, home to 265 million Catholics, or nearly a quarter of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. Many of those Catholics live and their churches operate in societies where homosexuality is condemned and outlawed.

    • Neato@kbin.social
      22·
      11 months ago

      Yeah. I was pretty sure the dude in the big hat that was they only direct link to God was infallible.

      • chaogomu@kbin.social
        15·
        11 months ago

        Yes and no.

        They believe that the pope can be infallible, but only sometimes. And sometimes means twice. As in, it has only been used two times.

        There is no set list of ex cathedra teachings, but that’s because there are only two, and both are about Mary: her Immaculate Conception (declared by Pope Pius IX in 1854 and grandfathered in after the First Vatican Council’s declaration of papal infallibility in 1870) and her bodily Assumption into heaven (declared by Pope Pius XII in 1950).

        Based on precedent, your pope name seems like it needs to be “pius” to be eligible for infallibleness.

        • bradorsomething@ttrpg.network
          2·
          11 months ago

          An electric hybrid would be a great for a pope. Fuel efficiency in religion is important - even Jesus left with his disciples in one Accord.