What you should know about «fiducia supplicans» Declaration on the pastoral meaning of blessing
The Episcopal Conference of Malawi wishes to provide important clarifications regarding the « Declaration on the Pastoral Significance of Blessings » (Fiducia Supplicans) recently issued. The bishops have noted erroneous interpretations of this declaration, sparking interest, fears, and concerns among Catholics and those seeking moral, spiritual, and doctrinal guidance from the Catholic Church.
The Declaration DOES NOT pertain to the blessing of same-sex unions or their sacramental approval as married couples. It is a document prompted by questions posed to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith regarding whether God’s blessings through His ministers can be extended to all, regardless of their situation. Thus, the document’s title is « On the Pastoral Sense of Blessings » and NOT on the blessing of same-sex unions.
The Declaration reaffirms the Church’s teaching on marriage as an exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children. Rites and prayers that might cause confusion between what constitutes marriage and what contradicts it are not allowed.
Ordinary blessings, intended for individuals, sacred objects, workplaces, etc., should be given to anyone or anything. Homosexual couples or those in irregular unions can request these non-liturgical ordinary blessings, but they should not be interpreted as liturgical or semi-liturgical acts similar to a sacrament.
To avoid confusion among the faithful, the bishops of Malawi state, for pastoral reasons, that all kinds of blessings for same-sex unions are not allowed in Malawi.
In conclusion, they reaffirm that the Church’s teaching on marriage remains an « exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children »
