"irregular" couples

Strange that an organisation full of homosexuals doesn't like homosexuals.

I expect people who apply for the blessing care.

There are some who struggle to balance their religion and their sexuality.

This organisation has huge influence on the world. Disproportionately so. While I’d wish people would see them for what they are, a money making racket and an oppressive one at that, a huge proportion of the population here identify as Catholic. If a move like this makes it easier for anyone to live their lives, it’s welcome.

But honestly, they’re no different to Druids, red pillers, crystal healers etc etc etc. They change their views to suit whatever way the wind is blowing. Remember being taught about original sin in school? That twisted BS was quietly dumped by them one day.

Go away and media, stop reporting so prominently on them.

In fairness there's multiple good reasons for that attitude towards the church...

People are allowed to comment on something without 'trying to prove' anything.

It's a significant shift in Catholic practice. The Catholics ate like the UK monarchy. They have to be behind the times to maintain status as an antiquated institution. But it also has to modernise it doesn't become so disconnected from the real world that people just forget about it.

What they say wont have any effect on my life, but I'd prefer they say this than totally shun the gays. It's a move in the right direction even thought it's still miles behind the times.

In a generation the Catholics will be performing marriages for same sex couples and they'll deny ever being opposed to it. That's just how these kinds of institutions work.

It won't have any impact in Ireland, but there are probably gay people in Africa and South America who are glad the Catholics are softening their rhetoric. It probably signals a small improvement in the kind of guff they get from people over the next few years.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with calling out a corrupt organisation, particularly one with ever moving goalposts in an attempt to stay relevant.

The only whingers I see on here are the likes of yourself defending them.

Thought this was going to be a thread about couples which shouldn't work together but actually do and have a strong relationship. Ah well.

This is the organisation that blesses tractors. Their blessings probably aren't as important as they once were

Every priest has a family member or close friend who is in an "irregular" relationship (or "marriage" to the rest of us) so I guarantee you this has been happening already. You ask me it was only a matter of time before the head office caught up with the troops on the ground.

Hmm, not sure the people whom that applies to would give much heed to anything the Pope has to say on the matter 😬

While the Catholic Church remains a backward, insular and closed minded organisation, any movement towards a more open approach is welcome.

Did anyone actually expect them to go straight to allowing gay marriage within the church?

I could see some sort of fresh new Catholic split offs as this happens. I can't imagine any of the more extreme Catholics being happy with it. Eg your David Quinns or ancient order of Hibernians. If I'm honest, I've got very little time for the church based on personal experiences so I'll happily watch the comedy of the internal conflicts from this kind of thing. 😲 But equally I'd hope that this might help reduce bigotry in African states etc. So there's definitely positives for both LGBT people who are Catholic and people impacted by the views of the church.

Yep I'm thinking more the likes of Catholics you'll get in the US which could easily go in the direction of evangelical Christians or something. They're far more hard-line than the majority here.

Good man Mr. Pope. Now, when can we expect Her Holiness Mary McAleese's response?

The typical boards.ie whinger reaction of "The church is a corrupt organisation" reminds me of the likes of the People-before-profit-types few catchphrases which they blindly use about everything and anything.

I wasnt asking you that, i asked would you not accept, given the definition of normal, that a same sex marriage is normal?

im getting at your issue with language when the language is fine, yes same sex marriage is normal given that it is usual or typical.

Well it is clear that you are just looking to be outraged.

The OP said same-sex AND irregular couples

There is no amount of reasoning with a person who trying to manufacture outrage at every opportunity.

Well these people take their beliefs seriously and need to be respected; sanctity of marriage/voting for a serial adulterer, pro life/anti healthcare/pro wars etc.

They offer a very credible alternative.

I don't think anything hugely controversial has been said outside of people stating why Irish people generally have a negative relationship with the church. You can report something that is actually incendiary. Saying the organisation has behaved criminally over the decades is something that people would have to be very ignorant to deny.

Meanwhile comments on the sites about Muslims more often than not tends to stereotype 2 billion people. That's very different to expressing a view on the organisation that is the RCC.

Perhaps use them to aid in your learning?

IIRC the civil piece is no gone, with no differentiation between X + Y, X +X, Y+Y.

{No word yet on X + 2X, or to suit some of our recent arrivals from South of 36 North: X + nY ]

I hadn't really thought of where the US fits in. 

Catholics in the US slide quite comfortably into the middle (schoolboy humour aside 😂) on the question of same-sex marriage:

Catholics worldwide aren’t on the same wavelength as Rome on the subject of homosexuality, apart from Catholics in Eastern Europe (survey doesn’t say whether these are Roman or Orthodox Catholics, most likely Orthodox) and some countries in Africa:

The Vatican have basically done nothing more than reiterate the position of the Roman Catholic Church in different language, they haven’t actually changed anything:

Cardinal Fernández emphasised that the new stance does not validate the status of same-sex couples in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

The declaration represents a softening of tone from the Catholic Church, although not a change in position. In 2021, the Pope said priests could not bless same-sex marriages because God cannot "bless sin".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67751600

Helps Rome maintain it’s authority in a climate where Roman Catholics are beginning to question the authority of Rome:

https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/threat-schism-between-german-bishops-and-vatican-real

whos the hypocrite?

The Christian who doesn’t practice what they’ve been taught:

Matthew 7:3-5 KJV

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.7.3-5.KJV

Not sure why you’d suggest anyone should get rid of their Christmas trees and presents, traditions which existed in many societies long before Christianity laid claim to them, and later declared December 25th to be the day on which to celebrate the birth of Jesus:

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/how-december-25-became-christmas/

Muslims too have been known to celebrate Christmas. When I asked one of my mates about it, he simply replied that they like to join in the party. Other Muslims disagree:

https://islamqa.info/amp/en/answers/145950

I’m kinda ‘what would Jesus do?’ He’d want to make sure there was enough food and wine for everyone, that’s what Jesus would do 😂