I’m not sure how elated we gay non-Catholics are meant to be with the latest news from the Vatican. Pope Francis has approved some Catholic blessings for same-sex couples, so long as they do not appear to endorse their marriage,
The Vatican has stressed that marriage remains exclusively between a man and a woman, and any priests granting a blessing to a same-sex couple must “avoid any form of confusion or scandal” that could suggest otherwise.
The Church is claiming it is a major departure from the Vatican, which only two years ago had said God “cannot bless sin” in a controversial 2021 decision about same-sex couples. Back in 2013, the 87-year-old Pontiff when asked about gay priests, famously replied: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” Precisely.
The news comes the same day the NY Times writes that the United Methodist Church is in danger of breaking as the faith divides over L.G.B.T.Q. policies. At issue for Methodists is the question of ordaining and marrying L.G.B.T.Q. people, a topic that has splintered many other Protestant denominations and which Methodists have been debating for years.
In 2019, Methodist leaders opened a window for any congregations to leave over “reasons of conscience,” in most cases allowing them to take their property and assets with them in a clean break if they received approval to depart by Dec. 31, 2023. Many conservative congregations have done just that with the departure of the nation’s roughly 30,000 United Methodists
So if you are thinking of taking up religion here’s a summary of denominational positions in North America, Europe, and Asia
The following table summarizes various denominational practices concerning members who are currently in a homosexual relationship.
| Denomination | Allows homosexuals as members | Ordains practicing homosexuals | Blesses unions | Marries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventist[180] | No | No | No | No |
| Alliance of Baptists | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Anglican Church in North America[182] | No | No | No | No |
| American Baptist Churches USA | Varies | No | No (official denominational position; local congregational practices may differ)[27][28] | No (official denominational position; local congregational practices may differ)[27][28] |
| Assemblies of God[119][184] | No | No | No | No |
| National Baptist Convention[30] | Varies | No | Varies | Varies |
| Southern Baptist Convention[185] | No[186] | No | No | No |
| Catholic Church | Yes[187] | No | Yes[188] | No |
| Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)[33] | Yes (General Assembly has affirmed all orientations; local regions and congregations can make their own choice) | Yes (General Assembly has affirmed all orientations; local regions and congregations can make their own choice)[32] | Varies | Varies (General Assembly does not have a stated a position on same-sex marriage; local regions and congregations may perform)[34] |
| Christian Reformed Church in North America[35][189] | No | No | No | No |
| Reformed Church in America[190] | Yes | Varies | Varies | Varies (decided within classes) |
| Churches of Christ | No | No | No | No |
| Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Indian Pentecostal Church of God | No | No | No | No |
| Church of the Nazarene[191] | No | No | No | No |
| Church of England[citation needed] | Yes | No[192] | Yes[193] | No |
| Church of Scotland[194][195] | Yes | Yes | Varies | Yes |
| Eastern Orthodox[citation needed] | No (Weaning from the sacrament for 15 years. In case of termination and repentance for 3 years.) [196] | No.[197] | No | No |
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) | Yes[199][200] (Homosexual behavior is considered sinful and may be subject to church discipline short of excommunication)[201] | No | No | No |
| Community of Christ | Yes[202] | Varies. In nations where it is illegal, even punishable by death, homosexuals will not be ordained into the priesthood[73][202] | Varies (In nations where it is illegal, even punishable by death, same-sex unions of any kind will not be blessed[73] | Varies (In nations where it is illegal, even punishable by death, same-sex marriages will not be performed[73][203] |
| Evangelical Covenant Church | No[204][205] | No[206] | No[206] | No[206] |
| Evangelical Free Church of America | No | No | No | No |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church in America[75] | Yes | Yes | Varies (by discernment of congregation and pastor) | Varies (in civil jurisdictions where allowable and by discernment of congregation and pastor) |
| Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod[207] | No | No | No | No |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada[85] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| German Lutheran and United Churches in Evangelical Church in Germany | Yes | Yes | Yes[208] | Varies[209][210] |
| Mennonite | Varies | Varies[211] | Varies | Varies |
| United Methodist Church[212] | Yes | Varies | Varies[212][213] | No[212][213] |
| Metropolitan Community Church[112] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| United Pentecostal Church International[214] | No | No | No | No |
| Evangelical Presbyterian Church[130] | No | No | No | No |
| Orthodox Presbyterian Church[132] | No | No | No | No |
| Presbyterian Church (USA)[215] | Yes | Yes[216] | Varies | Yes |
| Presbyterian Church in America | No[217] | No[129] | No[129] | No[129] |
| Religious Society of Friends (Quaker)[citation needed] | Yes | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Union of Scranton (Old Catholic)[218] | No | No | No | No |
| Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches (Italy) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches[citation needed] | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Swedenborgian[citation needed] | Yes | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Church of Sweden | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Church of Denmark | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Church of Iceland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Church of Norway | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Unification Church[219] | No | No | No | No |
| Unitarian and Free Christian Churches[a] (UK) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| United Church of Canada[220][221] | Yes | Yes | Not applicable | Varies |
| United Church of Christ[222] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vineyard USA[174] | No | No | No | No |
| The Wesleyan Church | No | No | No | No |
| Rosicrucian Fellowship (Esoteric Christians) | Undefined (homosexual activity is considered sinful; members are expected to eventually abstain from any sexual practice other than for procreation, performed as a sacramental act) | No (the Fellowship does not ordain; however, access to Discipleship requires Generative Purity) | No | No (marriage is seen as a sacrament binding man and woman; the marriage service requires the presence of an ordained Minister of a Christian church)[226] |
| Unity Church[175] | Yes | Yes | Varies | Varies |
| Philippine Independent Church (Iglesia Filipina Independiente)[178] | Yes[178] | Yes[179] | No | No |
Labels: 2023, blessings, LGBTQ, Pope Francis, Same Sex Marriage
