Meghalaya's Christian Community Embraces Progress as Archbishop Permits Blessings for Same-Sex Unions

Shillong - Christian queer couples in India, especially in Meghalaya, have a reason to rejoice! Meghalaya’s Archbishop declared that the church will now bless same-sex couples. Expressed through a declaration, Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh informed the Christian community of the state about the new development. Though this does not mean an official approval of same-sex unions, it is considered a step in the right direction.

On December 22, Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh conveyed a message to the priests, religious members, and devoted followers of the Archdiocese of Shillong in a letter. The declaration said, “The Catholic Church issued the declaration ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ on December 18, 2023, through The Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith and approved by Pope Francis. With this, it will be possible for a Catholic Priest to bless same-sex couples but without any type of ritual of the Church that resembles the marriage rite.”

“The Declaration stresses the pastoral meaning of blessings. This is a spontaneous prayer of a priest with informal words. This is not to be mistaken as the official liturgical and ritual blessings of the Church during the marriage.”

“Therefore, the declaration does not change the Catholic Doctrine of Marriage, and the blessing does not signify approval of the union. Let us keep the sanctity of Marriage in the Church.”

On December 28, 2020, Bishop Victor Lyngdoh, who was the Bishop of Jowai, got a new role as the Archbishop of Shillong Archdiocese. He officially took on this role on February 6, 2021, during a ceremony at the Cathedral of the Archdiocese.

Filmmaker and activist Tarun Bhartiya from Shillong, Meghalaya, took to X (formerly Twitter) to appreciate the step by posting, “Catholic same-sex couples can now request the blessing of their priest. Not yet marriage but a loving acknowledgment.”

What had Pope Francis said?

Pope Francis has given his approval for priests to bless same-sex couples, marking a big change in Vatican policy. A new document from the Vatican's doctrine office, based on a letter the Pope sent to two conservative cardinals in October, says that people looking for God's love and mercy shouldn't have to go through a detailed moral examination to receive these blessings.

The document repeats the Pope's earlier idea that these blessings might be okay in certain situations, as long as they don't get mixed up with the sacrament of marriage. It stresses that marriage is supposed to be a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. Also, it says these blessings shouldn't happen at the same time as a civil union or include specific rituals, clothes, or gestures from a traditional wedding.

The document makes it clear that requests for blessings for same-sex couples should not be flatly turned down. It explains the term "blessing" in Scripture, saying that people seeking a deep connection with God and His love and mercy shouldn't have to go through a detailed moral examination before getting these blessings.

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