Priests and pastoral workers in Germany defied Pope Francis this week by conducting blessing ceremonies attended by same-sex couples. Organisers held a day of protest on Monday in response to the Vatican’s recent declaration that the Church does not have the power to bless same-sex unions.
The ceremonies, known as Segnungsgottesdienste für Liebende, or ‘blessing services for lovers,’ were promoted using the hashtag #liebegewinnt (‘love wins’). Organisers said that the services were open to all couples, including – and in particular – those of the same sex.
Ceremonies reportedly took place in around 80 cities in Germany as well in Zürich, Switzerland’s largest city.
Almost 130 participants gathered in the Augustinian Church, not far from Würzburg Cathedral, while almost 40 people attended a ceremony in the youth church at the same time.
In many places, a general blessing was given at the end of the service, which, however, explicitly included homosexual couples and their relationships. Sometimes individual blessings were offered after the ceremony.
According to the organisers of a service at the Liebfrauenkirche in Frankfurt, “At the end of the Mass…Capuchin friars were available to all couples for personal blessings.” The church, dedicated to Mary, belongs to the Diocese of Limburg, led by Bishop Georg Bätzing, chairman of the German bishops’ conference.
In the Augustinian Church in Würzburg too all couples – expressly including same-sex couples – were invited to “come and get” the individual blessing in a backroom, after the service.
