The Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference of Ukraine has responded to the Vatican's declaration by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, "FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS," addressing the pastoral significance of blessings.
According to the website of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, the declaration confirms the Church's traditional teachings on marriage. However, the concept of blessing same-sex unions or sacramentally irregular couples might be perceived as legitimizing these relationships.
The Conference's full message states that the declaration discusses various types of blessings that clergy can impart outside of the liturgy. While it emphasizes that liturgical blessings can only be given to those genuinely seeking to live a God-pleasing life, it extends the understanding of non-liturgical blessings, introducing the possibility of blessing same-sex couples. This possibility has sparked controversy and misunderstandings regarding moral and doctrinal issues within the Catholic Church regarding such blessings.
The document aims to highlight God's boundless love for all people, including sinners, demonstrating that the Church does not reject these individuals, including those with homosexual inclinations or actions. However, it seems unclear in the text how the document distinguishes between the individual and their actions, the compassionate acceptance of the person, and clear disapproval of their sin.
Simultaneously, the document mainly focuses on two categories: those in sacramentally unregulated relationships (a man and a woman) and same-sex couples. Thus, the document treats both situations of sacramentally unregulated relationships between a man and a woman and same-sex couples similarly. Both situations are considered to involve serious sin, but they appear to need separate consideration.
The bishops note the danger of ambiguous wording, leading to differing interpretations among the faithful. They feel the document lacks a call for repentance for sinners, especially for homosexual couples, and that without urging to abandon sinful lives, blessing might be perceived as approval. However, they stress that the document repeatedly emphasizes that blessing same-sex couples in no way legalizes such cohabitation. The teaching of the Catholic Church regarding the Sacrament of Marriage, which is the union of man and woman, remains unchanged.