Fiducia supplicans is simply a profoundly harmful paper that leads believers to sin and undermines God's revelation and the unchanging teaching of the Church. It will have serious consequences, threatening salvation and leading many astray. The portal PCh24.pl publishes an extended analysis of JE Bishop Athanasius Schneider.
The problem of blessing single-sex couples and its consequences for the doctrine and life of the Catholic Church
The "Fiducia supplicans" paper announced by the Dicastery of the Doctrine of religion on December 18, 2023 and endorsed by the Pope concerns the anticipation of giving "simple", "spontaneous", "short" and "non-litigious" blessings to couples surviving in an adulterous cohabitation union and couples of the same sex. This paper profoundly and harmfully affects both the Catholic Church as a full and local Catholic communities.
1. The actual Meaning of Blessing
Consent to the “blessing” of single-sex couples or adulterous unions does not express the genuine concern of the “soul - shepherd” due to the fact that specified a “blessing” is not a blessing in the authentic biblical sense. A actual blessing can only be granted to those who ask for it, being willing to accept the Church's teaching of what is to be blessed--and who want to repent and live according to the Church's teaching, if they do not yet live. Those who willingly turn distant from God’s commandments and lead a life that is not pleasing to him, insult him and permanently reject his favor. As a result, they cannot accept God’s blessing without penance for their sinful way of life.
Priestly ordination gives the priest spiritual power and authority, allowing him to bless for morally righteous purposes, purposes which are in the actual sense of blessing, according to the Church's eternal teaching. The priest cannot give a blessing beyond this perspective, for it would be an insult to God, an abuse of authority, and a misuse of the blessing that would be given for reasons another than those for which it was thought.
For example – a priest cannot bless the prof. of philosophy, who announces that he will give a lecture that approves atheism, due to the fact that it would be equivalent to the support of the atheistic beliefs of the philosopher. If he had done so, the priest would have been a sharer in promoting atheism, which is simply a grave sin. The blessing would be wicked, as it would be contrary to the natural law and truths revealed by God.
Priestly blessing includes the blessing of objects, the sanctification of the faithful, and the summoning of God's gifts and graces; so the word "blessed" is equivalent to the word "holy." For this reason, those who receive the blessing are called to righteous life. Therefore, turning a blind eye to the sin of homosexuality – that is, engaging in homosexual acts – and moving to bless a individual who identifies himself with a homosexual lifestyle is tantamount to blessing abominations. Never in the past of the Church have priests been given authority or authority to bless sinful ways of life, which would be the same as allowing and encouraging them!
The Church blesses individuals and groups (for example in the blessing given by the priest at the end of the liturgical celebration), even if any present are in a state of sin. The question, however, concerns the "possibility of blessing homosexual partners" specially selected for recipients of the blessing for those couples whose ongoing relation straight contradicts the truths revealed by God. The “Fiducia supplicans” paper states that in this case the priest must avoid “investigating their situation”, meaning that he will not ask or discuss their situation with them. This means turning a blind eye to any possible incorrect situation or condition in which they may live. At the same time, this ban effectively prevents the priest from calling them to repentance. In fact, specified a "blessing" will not only be of no benefit, as it will not do any good to specified "pairs", but, on the contrary, will lead to evil, making them believe that their relation and the expression of homoerotic "love" is not only sinful, but that it is besides desired by God as good.
2. “Blessing” of single - sex couples harms people spiritually
If people do not want to live a moral life in harmony with God’s Word, they will most likely not ask for a blessing. It is simply a tragedy that “Fiducia supplicans” prompts “pairs in irregular situations and same-sex couples” to ask for blessing, despite the will to proceed surviving in nonsubjective sin. Thus this paper causes scandal, allowing the clergy to bless those who openly lead life in sin and who may have the habit of committing grave sins without the intention of conversion.
Heterosexual couples who live together without matrimony are to be able to receive a “simple”, “spontaneous”, “non-litigious” blessing. It is even more serious to bless homosexual couples, since the sin of sodomy is heavier than adultery. "Blessing" a gay couple logically and implicite means blessing her sinful way of life – and above all blessing the belief that it is internally good and hence morally and socially acceptable. If specified relationships are right, why should "simple" and "spontaneous" blessings not receive "polyamorous" relationships? According to the logic of the ‘Fiducia supplicans’, the priest could rightly bless the married man and his lover, a priest surviving in an open concubine, a gang associate who has stained himself with execution and does not regret, or a dictator who starved millions to death.
The summoning of God’s favour to those who live in seemingly sinful situations without calling them to conversion, makes the clergy and the planet anesthetic of the sinfulness of homosexual acts and sinful relationships in general. As a result, sexual sin will no longer be seen as a violation of God's commandment "not commit adultery," but as an acceptable reality which must be blessed alternatively than condemned.
Those who defend the dignity of the Fiducia supplicans claim that blessing a homosexual couple means blessing 2 people separately, not their relationship. But how may the blessing of the same sex couple not apply to the blessing of the relation that binds the couple? The blessing of the man and of the female who received the sacrament of matrimony does not mean the blessing of each of the spouses individually, but besides the blessing of their sacred bond. The letter to the Hebrews says: “Let matrimony be worshiped” (Heb. 13:4). This is simply a confirmation of what God has established and what our Lord Jesus Christ has strengthened. The Sacrament of matrimony binds for life only 1 man and 1 female and is the only institution allowing God's acceptable, moral and lawful practice of sexuality.
3. “Blessing” homosexual couples deny the mission of the Church to call for conversion
One of the chief tasks of the Church is to call sinners to repentance: "In his name conversion and remission of sins shall be preached to all nations" (Lk 24:47). The first appeal made by our Lord Jesus Christ is, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Mt 4:17). The Church has been founded, exists, and develops for the conversion of sinners, which opens them to receive the sanctification grace from God. To convert to Catholicism without repentance and to lead a new, virtuous and pure life in Christ is useless to man. The Church constantly calls for the repentance of practicing Catholics so that they can live in a virtuous way. To ignore the call to repentance does large harm to the Church and to the faithful.
Blessing the couple, a homosexual clergyman ignores his work to call homosexuals to repentance. It undermines its work to call for repentance with the appropriate pastoral love—not only towards single-sex couples, but all who commit sexual sins and those who live in a state of sexual sin. The “blessing” of the condition of sin strengthens the incorrect moral convictions of sinners and facilitates their sin, making their chances of conversion little likely. Thus, those who support specified blessings are de facto encouraging homosexual couples to prosecute a sinful lifestyle, for which God will condemn them. People who introduce “blessing” for homosexual couples bear the work for the large spiritual harm done to specified persons. Therefore, specified “blessing” fits the conventional definition of scandal, due to the fact that they lead others to sin.
The “Fiducia supplicans” declaration is clearly not an expression of genuine pastoral concern or an initiative derived from actual mercy towards people who live in situations that contradict the truths revealed by God. The goal of pastoral concern is to benefit people by helping sinners to convert, comfort the troubled, aid the sick, and so on. The "blessing" of single-sex couples cannot produce any good; on the contrary, it is harmful at respective levels. A homosexual person, receiving this kind of "blessing" – like the priest who gives it – silently proclaims homosexual activity something acceptable. This seriously threatens eternal salvation. specified a "blessing" will be like a seal given to them by the Church—a seal allowing them to boast that they have received the "blessing of the Church"—and will become a circumstantial milestone in their lives! There is no reason why they should not go to the priest more than erstwhile to receive specified a "blessing." A homosexual individual who participates in the “gay parade”, dressed in queer outfits, equipped with progenian symbols and slogans, can even enter a Catholic church, most likely prior to fixing it with a priest, stand in line and ask for “simple” and “spontaneous” blessing.
All of this provides crucial support for groups and lobbyies "LGBTQ" and for their "gay pride" of practicing homosexuals to the rank of acceptable "sociality" within the Church itself. specified a "blessing" besides strengthens the LGBTQ "community" in the false belief that their sinful way of life is good, which leads them distant from conversion. Above all, it helps to justify their conflict to get a “right” to get married, adopt children and normalize homosexual activity. In this sense, full societies, and even more so any communities in the Church, will become de facto promoters of the “LGBTQ” ideology.
4. The “blessing” of single-sex couples constitutes a contradiction between religion and the practice of the Church
When bishops announce that the Church will "bless" single-sex couples, they actually claim that the Church will "bless" the sin for which God punished Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:1-29). erstwhile the clergy “bless” persons as homosexual couples, this means that they are not opposed to a long-term homosexual union. This de facto means his consent to the sinful relation of 2 or more persons, regardless of their deviant sexual practice.
The top possible hazard associated with the decision to "bless" homosexual couples are possible further consequences. There is no point in explaining that specified a "blessing" is "simple" and "spontaneous" and that it does not confirm the relation between the 2 parties, just as it is pointless to claim that it has no liturgical meaning. Unbelievers and people of another religions do not realize the meaning of Catholic blessings, so they will naturally presume that receiving specified “blessing” means concluding a kind of matrimony contract. It is so pointless to keep that the decision to bless homosexual couples "is not equivalent to the sacrament of marriage". Both the direct consequences and the long-term implications of this decision, which may not be visible at first glance, are of large importance at religious, moral, ecclesiastical and social levels. It will be hard to counteract these effects, and the harm they cause, which may become more severe, will be equally hard to repair.
If 2 secular in a homosexual relation can receive a "blessing", there is no reason why a homosexual priest and his sexual partner should not receive it. Thus, there will be persons in the Catholic Church, both secular and spiritual, who will appear as having a "right" to live in a permanent state of sin, while the church authorities not only disregard this, but even straight encourage specified a sinful way of life. The “blessing” will thus become a tool of moral corruption in the community of the faithful, especially among children and young people. Why should anyone become a associate of a church that de facto promotes and blesses sin and homosexuality?
5. “Blessing” homosexual couples and abuse of the word “discrimination”
"Fiducia supplicans" is utilized as a weapon against faithful Catholics – clergy and laymen on an equal footing – as it maintains that "blessing" is simply a pastoral initiative of love and care towards those with homosexual tendencies who experience discrimination in the Church. Those who say so bring chaos into the language. "Discrimination" is present a word to describe unfair or unmerciful behaviour towards others; in this sense all Catholics agree that mercy, in the appropriate sense of the word, should be shown to everyone. But 1 must separate between good and evil. They do so both intelligent beings and surely God himself, as he distinguishes or discriminates between evil and good deeds, condemning the erstwhile and blessing the latter. Those who accuse the Church of “discrimination” towards homosexuals, thus condemn any discrimination between good and bad behavior.
6. “Blessing” of monosexual couples and propaganda of sex ideology
“Fiducia supplicans” is besides a weapon that the enemies of the Church and the LGBTQ group will easy usage to corrupt societies and persuade them to accept sinful ways of life. They can easy usage this Vatican paper as a powerful tool for demanding legal position for single-sex unions in the civilian area and accepting specified position in the Catholic Church itself – only exacerbating the deep divisions that are already present within the Church.
"Fiducia supplicans" creates a situation in which legitimate bishops and priests serving in countries where sodomy is legally permitted may be banned from acting against it and lose the anticipation of calling homosexuals to convert. The therapists may in turn lose the chance to treat those who ask for it. How can bishops and priests say that their Church does not let them to “bless” homosexual couples? It will be indicated to them that their Church has agreed to specified "blessing", and refusing to grant them constitutes "enemy behavior" aimed at homosexuals. This will open the way to bringing them to justice, throwing them out and blocking the anticipation of serving as priests.
7. “Blessing” of single-sex couples in wedding-like ceremonies
“Fiducia supplicans” maintains that the blessing is to be “simple”, “spontaneous” and “non-liturgical”. However, homosexual partners will most likely arrange a gathering with a priest to receive specified a "spontaneous" and "non-liturgical" blessing. They may even arrange a homosexual “marriage” in civilian court or in non-Catholic “church” just before they receive it. It may even happen that specified a “blessing” will be preceded by a sermon. What will happen if “the blessing is simple and spontaneous”? The priest can make a "non-litigious" prayer for "blessing", which may be comparatively long and contain a moving, emotional language resembling the language of "giving up" in the Sacrament of Marriage. The terms ‘simple’, ‘spontaneous’ and ‘short’ can be interpreted in different ways.
8. “Blessing” gay couples and accepting another sinful situations
The secular authorities, especially in countries that have legalized “homosexual” marriages, will, of course, welcome the decision of any clergymen of the Catholic Church to “bless” homosexual couples. If this practice becomes universal in the Church, it will be hard to halt it. Is “Fiducia supplicans” an introduction to any form of matrimony ceremony for single-sex couples in the Church? Given the ease with which these “blessings” have developed, it can be assumed that there is simply a long-term, broad plan behind the publication [of this declaration].
Due to the affirmative reaction of many church and secular groups to the "Fiducia supplicans" the meaning of this "short" or "simple" blessing can easy be extended beyond the originally declared intentions. As noted above (point 2), “Fiducia supplicans” opens the way to an infinite array of sinful situations. If 1 can "bless" a single-sex couple, why "bless" 2 minors with homosexual tendencies who ask for it? What will halt the “blessing” of an adult homosexual who will bring a insignificant priest? According to the logic of the “Fiducia supplicans”, the priest cannot simply refuse “blessing” as the paper says nothing about the age of those who request specified “blessing”. The questioning by the priest about the age of the parties may lead to a "exhaustive moral analysis", and this declaration prohibits it.
9. “Blessing” homosexual couples and abuse of church obedience
Another highly harmful effect of the Fiducia supplicans is that those who do not accept homosexual couples in the heart of the Catholic Church will now be branded as people rejecting the authority of the Church. However, it is actual that the rejection of the "blessing" of single-sex couples is not an act of disobedience to the Church, but only to those authorities in the Church who abuse God's authority. The rejection of specified "blessings" is indeed a actual obedience to God--and it is for him to be more obedient.
The forces that led to the publication of this declaration are secular authorities, LGBTQ lobbying groups and anti-ecclesiastical environments. Their goal is to sow uncertainty in the heart of the Church. Without a shadow of a doubt, they will exert considerable force to force Catholics to accept and advance [this declaration]. They will falsely invoke the work of obedience to the teaching of the Church, and those priests and faithful who criticise the “Fiducia supplicans” and refuse to implement it will accuse of unfaithfulness to the Pope.
10. “Blessing” of monosexual couples and their impact on children and young people
Catholic parents and educators present face crucial difficulties in teaching healthy Catholic morality, especially sexual morality. Children and youth are constantly bombarded with the ideas of "LGBTQ" through social media, and even worse – by many Catholic schools; and even by Catholic clergymen. Now, from the summit itself, “Fiducia supplicans” sends a signal to teenagers and youth that the Church accepts and approves homosexual couples and their relationships. Catholic educators and catechestes, deceived by the practice of "blessing" single-sex couples, can easy change their teaching on actual Catholic morality, to justify and promote, straight or indirectly, homosexual lifestyles and sexual deviations in general.
Conclusion
"Fiducia supplicans" seriously violates Catholic religion and morality, transforming the Catholic Church, at least in practice, from the space of calling sinners to conversion—to the space of acceptance and strengthening of those homosexuals and adulterers who lead sinful lives and refuse to repent. The prophet Isaiah said, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who turn darkness into light, and light into darkness...for they have rejected the Law of the Lord of armies” (Isa. 5:20; 24). This condemnation applies especially to those shepherds in the Church who lead people astray.
"Fiducia supplicans" is neither an act of authentic pastoral nor a teacher, as it undermines the unchanging Divine fact and the constant teaching of the Magisterium of the Church regarding the interior evil of sexual acts outside the valid marriage, especially homosexual acts. It makes it hard for the Church to effectively show the face of the Risen Christ and to delight with the beauty of his fact all over the world.
Bishop Athanasius Schneider
