Posts

Priests’ Group in Pittsburgh Issue Statement Criticizing Vatican’s Blessings Ban

A group of U.S. priests has issued a statement critical of the Vatican's ban on blessing same-gender couples. Today's post includes that news, as well as several other related news updates. Read More

German Bishop Supportive of Blessing Same-Gender Couples Asks “Why Not?”

A German bishop who has repeatedly vocalized his support for blessing same-gender couples in the church again spoke out, asking in a media interview, why such blessings are not possible, as the Vatican has said. Read More

What Does Boris Johnson’s Latest Wedding Have to Do With LGBTQ Catholics?

What does Boris Johnson's latest marriage have to do with LGBTQ Catholics? A bit more than appears at first glance, wrote one journalist and educator. Read More

German Priests Explain Why They Celebrated and Blessed Same-Gender Couples

Priests are speaking out about why they are participating in the "#liebegewinnt (Love Wins)" campaign this week, which includes more than 100 events in Germany and Switzerland to bless same-gender couples. Read More

New Ways Ministry Supports German Catholics’ LGBTQ Blessing Events

New Ways Ministry strongly supports the Catholics in Germany, including priests, who today are blessing hundreds of same-gender couples. Read More

Will German Catholics’ Blessing of Same-Gender Couples Lead to a Church Schism?

Will Germany's Synodal Way, especially its rethinking of church teachings about sexuality and the question of blessing same-gender couples, lead to a schism? Some conservative observers have sounded alarms. As a day of blessing such relationships kicks off in that country and Switzerland, Bondings 2.0 provides the latest updates and takes a look at that question. Read More

God Bless You

The older I become, the more I stand in awe of the reverence with which some family members practice the ritual of making the sign of the cross before and after offering grace at meals. Read More

Sacred Heart University Hosts LGBTQ Celebration In Wake of Vatican Blessings Ban

Two Catholic colleges have taken positive steps to being more inclusive campuses for their LGBTQ students, including one school hosting a celebration of LGBTQ people in the wake of the Vatican's ban on blessing same-gender couples. Read More

Blessing Same-Gender Couples Is Matter of Conscience for Priests, Says German Bishop

Ahead of planned blessings for same-gender couples on May 10th, a German bishop has said priests and pastoral ministers must follow their consciences on whether to participate. Another bishop in Germany, however, has expressed his concerns about the upcoming blessings action. Read More

Vatican Blessings Ban a Moment to Leave Church for Some and to Recommit for Others

In the weeks following the Vatican’s’s declaration that priests cannot bless same-gender couples, there are reports (like this one) that people are leaving the church because of this decision. And while some people may be finally throwing in the towel and leaving the church, for others, their Catholicism runs deeper than the institution in Rome. Read More