As we ponder the latest of the pope’s efforts to encourage those persons who center their identity on various letters of the LGBTQ+ alphabet, it might be good to consider the purpose of the Church.

 

Jesus started His Church to help people discover His Good News, repent of their sins, follow what He taught and ultimately be with Him in heaven. The Church helps us hear Jesus’ Truth, be inspired, fortified and well-instructed in it. 

 

The Church not only points out the narrow gate and constricted road that leads to life (Mt 7:14), it can also sort of boot us down that road when we need a kick. The Church challenges us and cheers us on as we tackle our personal sinful inclinations. It is charged to point out our wanderings off this difficult road and to offer help.

 

Living our own (seemingly brilliant!) way is not normally the way Jesus points out to us. The narrow gate and hard path are truly narrow and hard. But we are asked to do our best, and we are told to trust that nothing will be impossible for God.

 

Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:21-23 warn us that: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’”

 

That, plus John 16:2, when Jesus warns his disciples that “the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God,” show us that people can be greatly misled in how they interpret and live their faith. We must do our best to be clear as we share Jesus’ Truth.

 

My big concern about the Vatican’s new directive on blessing irregular couples is that, even though the blessings may be technically okay, they will be misunderstood by, as one friend put it, “anyone without a doctorate in theology.” And as bad as it is for regular Catholics who misunderstand these blessings, the most serious harm will come to the irregular couples themselves.

 

The argument that Catholics just don’t understand that there are different kinds of blessings is puzzling. We ask for blessings for our travels, for health procedures, for a renewed faith, etc. A priest may bless our house, our car, boat, cat or dog. Most Catholics understand that such spontaneous blessings differ from liturgical and sacramental blessings because most all of us, sinners all, have experienced informal blessings individually or as part of a group. Everyone is welcome to ask for and receive these informal blessings. 

 

The dilemma of deliberately blessing an irregular couple as a couple is that it is misleading. Not because of the words. Not even because of the individuals and their personal challenges, temptations, and lifestyles.

 

The argument for these blessings seems to be that they are not, theologically, a sign of Church approval of the couple’s relationship. 

 

But actions and images speak louder than theology. And so we read how gay couples are thrilled with what they see as a first step toward full acceptance by the Church of their same sex relationships and secular marriages. 

 

Whatever the pope’s noble intentions, these blessings are not always communicating Church teaching with clarity.

 

And since the couples can so easily receive the same kind of blessings as individuals without causing confusion, it is puzzling why Vatican offices and the pope are so adament about mandating these irregular-couple blessings that may not, technically, approve the couple — but sure look like approval.

 

May God bless LGBTQ+ individuals with a clear and true understanding of God’s will for them, along with the courage, fortitude, and humility to reach for holiness. It’s what all Catholics are called to do.

 

Note: Read Bishop David Malloy’s letter to priests on this topic on the Diocese of Rockford website.