A German bishop going to the synod on the family has proposed that the Catholic Church might offer ‘private blessings’ to same sex couples.
Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabruck said it was possible to see strengths as well as weaknesses in both gay relationships and in those of cohabiting heterosexuals.
He said that the Catholic Church could not accept same-sex marriage.
But the bishop said the Church was bound not to discriminate against homosexuals, as noted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Therefore it should do more to support those who were in stable unions.
He said: “With prayer and a private form of blessing you will be able to accompany their way.”
Additional readingNews category: News Shorts.