The Vatican’s Deliberate Confusion on Same-Sex Couples

The headlines around the world are as follows:

NYT: Pope Francis Allows Priests to Bless Same-Sex Couples

CNN: Pope Francis authorizes blessings for same-sex couples.

The cause of these headlines are a “statement,” Fiducia supplicans, issued by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (the pope’s doctrinal office), on the issue of blessings.

The document claims a very high level of authority. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith last issued a “statement” of this level of authority in 2000. It was called “Dominus Iesus” and it was authored by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, under John Paul II, affirming that salvation comes exclusively through Jesus Christ.