SINGAPORE: The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore on Tuesday (Dec 19) reiterated its stance of not blessing same-sex unions and stated the recent declaration by the Pope was to set out the principles and bounds for clergymen on how they need to bless these {couples}.
In an announcement revealed on its web site, the Catholic Church in Singapore stated it needed to make clear a “misimpression” that it has modified its stance on its conventional doctrine about marriage.
Cardinal William Goh, the leader of Singapore’s Catholic Church, stated the main target of the Vatican declaration on Monday just isn’t on the blessing of the unions of same-sex {couples}. As a substitute, it’s about offering steering in “making a distinction between the Church’s official blessings, and a pastoral blessing for all events exterior the liturgical and sacramental setting”.
“In contrast to the official blessings of the church, which require the usage of accepted prayers along with situations to be met, pastoral blessings are ad-lib prayers provided spontaneously for the individual,” he stated, in response to the assertion by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore.
“We aren’t blessing the unions of same-sex {couples}. We’re blessing {couples} who’re in irregular conditions reminiscent of those that are divorced and remarried, people struggling to be devoted to God’s commandments, and those that aborted their infants, simply as we bless the sick, the aged and those that request non secular and temporal blessings.
“We don’t bless the sins of the individual, however fairly, the person who’s at all times beloved by God, even when she or he is a sinner,” he added.
The Catholic Church stated Monday’s eight-page doc famous particularly that those that ask for a blessing present themselves “to be in want of God’s saving presence” of their lives by expressing “a petition for God’s help, a plea to stay higher”.
“This declaration, due to this fact, fairly than endorsing the blessing of irregular marriages and same-sex unions, units out the principles and bounds for clergymen as to how they need to bless these {couples} with out having these blessings mistaken by others because the Church’s approval of such unions.”
“We’re grateful that the Holy Father has authorised this declaration in order that Church ministers is not going to act in a means that offers others the fallacious impression that the Church endorses same-sex unions. On the similar time, it exhibits the Church’s mercy and love for all sinners, and that we’re all sinners endeavouring to develop in authenticity and perfection,” it added.