Evangelist Franklin Graham criticized Pope Francis for allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples.
“So-called “blessings” from religious leaders won’t save you from the judgment of God! Pope Francis has now approved Catholic priests “blessing” same-sex couples,” Graham, who is the CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, wrote on Facebook Monday afternoon.
“But none of us, including the Pope, has the right to “bless” what God calls sin. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…” (Isaiah 5:20).
“The Good News is that right now God will forgive sin, but we have to come to Him His way, on His terms--by repenting of our sins and placing our faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ,” he concluded. “Otherwise, the Bible says, “The destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed” (Isaiah 1:28).”
According to The Christian Post, the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a declaration titled "Fiducia Supplicans," providing "a broadening and enrichment of the classical understanding of blessings, which is closely linked to a liturgical perspective."
"It is precisely in this context that one can understand the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church's perennial teaching on marriage," the Catholic Church leadership stated.
"This Declaration is also intended as a tribute to the faithful People of God, who worship the Lord with so many gestures of deep trust in his mercy and who, with this confidence, constantly come to seek a blessing from Mother Church."
The Vatican document also explained that "when people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it" and that "those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection."
Regarding same-sex couples, "a blessing may be imparted that not only has an ascending value but also involves the invocation of a blessing that descends from God upon those who — recognizing themselves to be destitute and in need of his help — do not claim a legitimation of their own status."
At the same time, however, the declaration cautioned that "one should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation."
"At the same time, one should not prevent or prohibit the Church's closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God's help through a simple blessing," the Vatican document added.
"In a brief prayer preceding this spontaneous blessing, the ordained minister could ask that the individuals have peace, health, a spirit of patience, dialogue, and mutual assistance — but also God's light and strength to be able to fulfill his will completely."
In 2021, the Vatican issued a declaration stating that churches do not have the power to bless same-sex marriage because God "cannot bless sin."
According to the position held by the Catholic Church, same-sex attraction is not considered sinful, but homosexual acts are. Meanwhile, a 2019 survey found that six in 10 Catholics (61 percent) said they were in favor of gay marriage.
Last month, the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a guidance stating that people who have undergone trans surgical procedures or taken cross-sex hormones can be baptized, given that "there are no situations in which there is a risk of generating public scandal or disorientation among the faithful."
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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
