'Stirs the pot.' Oklahoma Catholic leaders react to pope's decision on same-sex blessings

One of Oklahoma's top Catholic leaders said people may confuse Pope Francis' decision allowing priests to offer blessings for same-sex couples with the pope giving the OK for priests to officiate at same-sex weddings.

But this is not that.

The Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, said "media coverage may have caused some confusion" about the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith's recent declaration, approved by Pope Francis, that priests may offer a non-liturgical (non-sacramental) blessing to same-sex couples.

"As Pope Francis has expressed previously, God cannot bless sin, but fortunately for all of us he desires to bless sinners and reconcile them to himself. He calls us all to repentance and conversion of life,” said Coakley, well known as one of the more conservative bishops in the United States, in his statement.

The Rev. Stephen Hamilton, pastor of St. Monica Catholic Church in Edmond, agreed, saying he thought the Vatican's latest formal missive regarding the LGBTQ+ community and the Roman Catholic Church was "Pollyanna-ish" in thinking that people wouldn't be confused by it. He said it was obvious to him that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith tried to minimize confusion by repeatedly stating that it was not saying the Church was sanctioning same-sex marriage, but the declaration released on Monday is nonetheless confusing.

Hamilton said priests have long been allowed to offer non-liturgical blessings for individuals.

"However, what I contend is the problem with the recent Vatican declaration, is that it proposes something new, namely that a priest could offer a non-liturgical, informal blessing to a couple, to bless them (plural) precisely and specifically as a couple ― In other words, to bless the relationship/union," Hamilton said.

"I suggest that is not actually possible according to authentic Catholic faith and practice, and not possible according to a biblical worldview. So, while I will always happily seek to assist people in all manner of situations, when it comes to the request to bless couples in irregular unions, to bless the union/relationship itself, I cannot do that and I will not do that."

More: Pope Francis approves blessings for same-sex couples if the rituals don’t resemble marriage

Coakley offered his comments via a news release and video circulated on social media. The archbishop, who leads an area which encompasses two-thirds of Oklahoma, offered his views in the wake of global attention surrounding the Church's recent ruling regarding the LGBTQ+ community.

In his statement, Coakley said the declaration actually "reaffirms the Church’s traditional understanding and teaching on marriage as an unbreakable bond between a man and a woman."

He said the latest declaration was an expression of the Church’s pastoral care for people.

Meanwhile, for several years, news outlets have highlighted what has been described as a rift between Pope Francis and conservative bishops and priests in the American Catholic Church. In the wake of the recent Vatican document regarding same-sex blessings, commentators around the globe have openly questioned whether the latest declaration from Rome will cause this split to grow.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Coakley as the Oklahoma City Archdiocese's fourth archbishop in 2010 and he was installed as archbishop in 2011. Currently in a key position of power in the Catholic arm of the Roman Catholic Church, he is known as one of the more conservative bishops in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In November, Coakley was elected as the conference's secretary and chairman of the organization's Committee on Priorities and Plans in a 187 to 55 vote over Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland, Oregon, according to the bishops' conference. He was already serving as conference secretary, completing the term left vacant November 2022 when Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio was elected conference president. With the recent election, Coakley's term as conference secretary runs through November 2027, according to a conference statement.

'Stirs the pot'

The Rev. Rick Stansberry, pastor of Our Lady's Cathedral in Oklahoma City, said the latest declaration clearly upholds the Church's teaching on marriage and specifically states that the blessing can not in any way resemble a marriage ceremony.

But the priest said many people often misconstrue the definition of a blessing.

"People assume that means approval or a promotion, even if it doesn't," he said.

Stansberry said people ask all the time for blessings for items like rosaries or they ask to be blessed before traveling or having a medical procedure.

The declaration, he said, is confusing and "stirs the pot."

"If you think about it, it makes conservatives unhappy because it seems to be a back door way to approve same-sex marriage but then it makes liberals upset because it really doesn't do that — and they think it doesn't go far enough," he said.

Stansberry said the declaration is possibly an attempt to make people in same-sex relationships feel welcome in the Church.

"I think people think the Church hates gays, but that has never been the thing," Stansberry said. "It's the 'hate the sin, love the sinner.'"

Coakley's statement in its entirety, reads:

“On Monday, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a declaration entitled Fiducia Supplicans where the media coverage may have caused some confusion. The declaration reaffirms the Church’s traditional understanding and teaching on marriage as an unbreakable bond between a man and a woman.

There are several new elements in this document, however. It affirms that a priest may give a non-liturgical blessing to persons in same-sex relationships or other irregular situations such as those involving divorced or cohabiting couples who spontaneously seek a blessing as an expression of their desire to grow closer to God. It must not resemble a wedding in any manner either through gestures, ritual language or special clothing.

This is an effort on the part of the pope and the Church’s ministers to accompany persons in such situations and extend to them an authentic expression of the Church’s pastoral care for them. It expresses the desire that all might come to a closer relationship with God.

As Pope Francis has expressed previously, God cannot bless sin, but fortunately for all of us he desires to bless sinners and reconcile them to himself. He calls us all to repentance and conversion of life.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Pope's same-sex blessing missive may be confusing, Oklahoma leaders say