German Cardinal Obliges Clergy to Conduct Blessings of LGBT Couples
Marx proposed making the blessing of same-sex couples and divorced individuals the norm in parish life.
On April 21, 2026, Cardinal Reinhard Marx of the Roman Catholic Church in Munich proposed including blessings for same-sex couples, as well as divorced and remarried persons, in pastoral practice, reports Tribune Chrétienne.
Reinhard Marx is a cardinal and one of the key figures of the Catholic Church in Germany, who previously served on the Council of Cardinals under the Pope. He heads the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and actively participates in reform initiatives in the German church.
This concerns a letter to the clergy proposing to make such blessings part of regular parish life. The document "Segen gibt der Liebe Kraft" is indicated as the foundation, which should serve as a guide for pastoral activity.
According to the initiative, couples who do not enter into church marriage can receive blessings, including same-sex unions and divorced persons. It is emphasized that this does not concern the sacrament of marriage, however, the practice itself should become available in parishes.
Priests who are not ready to participate in such rites are offered to direct believers to other ministers to ensure the availability of blessings.
The initiative is viewed as a continuation of the German "Synodal Way." The document was prepared with the participation of the Conference of German Bishops and the Central Committee of German Catholics, however, its implementation depends on the decisions of specific dioceses.
In parallel, a revision of the official book of blessings is being conducted, which may include special formulas for such cases, which could give the practice a more stable character.
At the same time, the Vatican document Fiducia supplicans allows individual blessings but prohibits their ritualization and similarity to the sacrament of marriage.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that a number of German dioceses, including Cologne, Regensburg, and Passau, have refused to implement such practices, while others support them.
Earlier, the Union of Orthodox Journalists wrote that in Larissa, a cleric of the Church of Greece accused parliament of betraying Christian ideals.
