Germany's powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions by offering such blessings at services in about 100 different churches all over the country this week.
The blessings at open worship services are the latest pushback from German Catholics against a document released in March by the Vaticans orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which said Catholic clergy cannot bless same-sex unions because God cannot bless sin.
The document pleased conservatives and disheartened advocates for LGBTQ Catholics around the globe. But the response has been particularly acute in Germany, where the German church has been at the forefront of opening discussion on hot-button issues such as the churchs teaching on homosexuality as part of a formal process of debate and reform.
The dozens of church services celebrating blessings of gay unions are the latest escalation in tensions between conservatives and progressives that have already sparked alarm, primarily from the right, that part of the German church might be heading into schism.
In Berlin, the Rev. Jan Korditschke, a Jesuit who works for the diocese preparing adults for baptism and helps out at the St. Canisius congregation, will lead blessings for queer couples at a worship service May 16.
I am convinced that homosexual orientation is not bad, nor is homosexual love a sin, Korditschke told The Associated Press in an interview Friday. I want to celebrate the love of homosexuals with these blessings because the love of homosexuals is something good.
The 44-year-old said it is important that homosexuals can show themselves within the Catholic Church and gain more visibility long-term. He said he was not afraid of possible repercussions by high-ranking church officials or the Vatican.
I stand behind what I am doing, though it is painful for me that I cannot do it in tune with the church leadership, Korditschke said, adding that the homophobia of my church makes me angry and I am ashamed of it.
The head of the German Bishops Conference last month criticized the grassroots initiative for gay blessings which is called Liebe Gewinnt or Love Wins.
