Liberal - German diocese discusses special ritual to bless gay couples
The Diocese of Limburg, in Frankfurt, Germany, is discussing a
special ritual to bless homosexual couples. One of two new appointees in the
diocese for pastoral care to homosexuals is a Jesuit priest who admits already
offering blessings in private.
The German newspaper Die Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ)
reported the following on December 11 about Father Ansgar Wucherpfennig, the
rector of the Jesuit Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology:
Wucherpfennig said that he had already blessed
homosexual couples, as did other priests, too, but not in a public service. It
needs a special sensitivity in order to establish a specific ritual [for the
blessing of homosexuals].
As the Dean of the Catholic Church of Frankfurt, Father
Johannes zu Eltz, announced, the program has been approved by the Diocese of
Limburg. And, as the FAZ reports, zu Eltz “announced a first discussion about a
Church blessing and ceremony for homosexuals.” He called it a “question of
justice which one cannot suppress.” Father Wucherpfennig, according to
the FAZ, insisted that “the homosexuals have found their place in the Church,
also as critical members.” Zu Eltz is quoted as saying, “It is important to
treat homosexuals with openness and appreciation.”
Catholic blogger Mathias von Gersdorff points out that the Graduate School Sankt Georgen – which
is headed by Wucherpfennig – is “known for its extravagant theological
positions.” And he comments:
These sad statements show once more how certain
ecclesiastical circles in Germany are willing to ignore the Catholic
Magisterium and the practice of the Universal Church in order to enter into a
“German Sonderweg [special path].” The fact that the last Synod of Bishops
rejected the idea to deal with the topic of homosexuality has no weight for the
German Progressivism. This progressivism is determined to implement its agenda.
Importantly, the former bishop of Limburg, Bishop Franz Peter
von Tebartz-van Elst, who was recently removed from his diocese, strongly
opposed the
blessing of a homosexual couple in 2008 by a local priest, Peter Kollas. Kollas
had blessed the couple in the Dome of Wetzlar and he was removed from his
position as provincial Dean, even though he remained in his position as pastor.
