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Bishop Pledges Not to Sanction Priests Who Bless Same-Gender Couples in May Event

A German bishop has pledged not to sanction any priest who blesses a same-gender couple in May as part of a church reform event being organized, while another bishop in that country reiterated his support for new ways of thinking about sexuality. Read More

Majority of Synodal Way’s Sexuality Forum Wants Same-Gender Blessings, Says Co-Chair

A co-chair of the German Synodal Way's working group on sexuality said that a majority of the forum's members had expressed support for blessing same-gender couples, even after the Vatican attempted to ban such blessings. Read More

More Than 200 German Theologians Issue Statement Opposed to Vatican’s Blessings Ban

More than 200 German theologians published a statement in opposition to the Vatican's responsum released last week that banned blessings for same-gender couples, adding to intensifying criticism from many sectors of the German-speaking church. Read More

Nearly 1,000 Pastoral Ministers in Germany Commit to Blessing Same-Gender Couples

In response to the Vatican's responsum on blessing same-gender unions this week, nearly 1,000 pastoral ministers in Germany, as well as other Catholics, have signed a letter in support of such blessings. Elsewhere in the country, bishops and priests are raising objections to the ban at an increasing pace. Read More

German Archdiocese Censors Catholic Students After Criticism of Church Teachings on Sexuality

A German archdiocese has censored a Catholic student group after the group issued a document critical of church teachings about sexual morality, among other reform-related items. Read More

German Priest Ready to Bless Same-Gender Couples, Calls Catechism “Embarrassing”

A priest tasked with diocesan ministry to lesbian and gay people has said he would happily bless same-gender couples if he was asked, adding that the Catechism's statements on homosexuality are "embarrassing." Read More

In Homily, German Priests Calls for Church Blessings for Same-Gender Couples

A priest in Germany harshly criticized the church’s refusal to ordain women and gay men, as well as its unwillingness to bless same-gender couples, calling some Catholics “bouncers” for their exclusionary attitudes. Read More

Yet Another German Bishop Endorses Church Blessings for Same-Gender Couples

In Germany, another bishop has endorsed church blessings for same-gender couples, while a group of young theologians calls for an end to discrimination in the church. Read More

German Bishop Hopes for Development in Church Teaching on Sexuality, But Is Synodal Way the Source?

Yesterday, Bondings 2.0 reported on a working document in the German church's Synodal Way process that was about sexuality and relationships, and which has potentially to significant advance LGBTQ inclusion in the church. Today's post features two reactions to that document, as well as one other story from Germany. Read More

Working Document from Germany’s Synodal Way Speaks Positively of Same-Gender Relationships

Participants in Germany's Synodal Way included a working document on sexuality and relationships during regional meetings this month that, if approved later, could move the church forward significantly on LGBTQ inclusion and questions of sexuality more generally. Read More