National Catholic Register reports that the Vatican has publicly released a November 2024 letter from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), signed by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, categorically rejecting a German episcopal proposal to introduce ritualized blessings for same-sex couples. The letter, addressed to Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier and the entire German episcopate, reiterates that such blessings cannot be formalized or ritualized, as this would imply a “moral legitimation” of unions incompatible with Church doctrine. This decision follows the controversial 2023 document *Fiducia Supplicans*, which, while opening the possibility of non-ritualized blessings for “irregular” couples, explicitly forbade any semblance of marriage rites. The publication of this letter was prompted by its recent circulation online, causing confusion, and by statements from “Pope” Leo XIV during his return flight from Africa, where he stated the Holy See “does not agree with the formal blessing of homosexual couples,” while simultaneously lamenting that sexual matters should not be the focus of Church unity and emphasizing broader issues like “justice, equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion.” This entire episode exposes the profound theological bankruptcy and moral cowardice of the post-conciliar structures, which, while feebly attempting to draw a line against the most egregious public displays of sodomy, continue to propagate the very errors that have led to the current crisis, all under the guise of “pastoral care” and “inclusion.”
The Illusion of Doctrinal Fidelity: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
The Vatican’s publication of the 2024 letter, ostensibly to clarify its stance against formalized blessings for homosexual couples, is a masterclass in the post-conciliar art of equivocation and damage control. While the letter itself, signed by Cardinal Fernández, explicitly states that the Church “does not have the power to confer its liturgical blessing when this, in any way, might offer a form of moral legitimation to a union that purports to be a marriage or to an extramarital sexual practice,” this very assertion is built upon the rotten foundation of *Fiducia Supplicans*. This 2023 document, a product of the same apostate regime, already opened the Pandora’s box by permitting non-ritualized blessings for those living in manifest, public sin. The current “clarification” is not a return to Catholic truth, but a desperate attempt to manage the fallout from its own prior modernist innovations.
The Catholic Church has always taught, with unwavering clarity, that “the marriage bond is established by God Himself, and therefore, once it has been legitimately contracted, it cannot be dissolved by any human authority” (Pope Pius XI, *Casti Connubii*). Homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law,” and “under no circumstances can they be approved” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, pre-conciliar understanding, and consistent Magisterial teaching). The very notion of “blessing” such unions, even in a non-ritualized form, is an oxymoron, a blasphemous mockery of the sacraments and a direct contradiction of divine law. As St. Paul unequivocally states, “Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor liers with thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). The post-conciliar structures, by even entertaining the possibility of such blessings, demonstrate their complete departure from the immutable moral law of God.
“Pope” Leo XIV: A Modernist Shepherd of Apostasy
The statements attributed to “Pope” Leo XIV during his return flight from Africa are perhaps the most damning evidence of the current crisis. His assertion that “the unity or division of the Church should not revolve around sexual matters” is a direct assault on the very essence of Catholic morality and the Church’s divine mission. It is a thinly veiled attempt to relegate the most fundamental truths of faith and morals to a secondary status, thereby paving the way for the acceptance of every abomination. This is the very essence of Modernism, which, as St. Pius X condemned, seeks to “reconcile the Church with the progress of modern civilization” and “the conciliation of faith with reason” (*Lamentabili sane exitu*, Propositions 58, 65).
Leo XIV’s lament that “there are much greater and more important issues, such as justice, the equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion” is a clear echo of the secular humanist agenda, placing worldly concerns above the eternal salvation of souls. This is the “cult of man” that the true Church has always warned against. His invocation of his predecessor Francis’s “Tutti, tutti, tutti” (“everyone, everyone, everyone”) is a chilling reminder of the false ecumenism and religious indifferentism that have characterized the post-conciliar era. The Church’s mission is not to affirm everyone in their sins, but to call all to conversion and repentance, for “unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). His warning that going beyond this “can cause more disunity than unity” reveals a pragmatic, worldly understanding of unity, utterly divorced from the unity of faith and truth that Christ prayed for (John 17:21).
The German Episcopate: A Hotbed of Heresy and Schism
The German episcopate, through its proposed “vademecum” for “Blessings for Couples Who Love Each Other,” has once again demonstrated its role as a vanguard of the conciliar revolution. Their attempt to formalize blessings for same-sex unions, even after *Fiducia Supplicans*, is a clear indication of their persistent drive to dismantle Catholic doctrine and replace it with a naturalistic, secularized morality. This is not a new phenomenon; the German Church has been at the forefront of dissent and innovation since the days of the “Synodal Way,” which has repeatedly called for the ordination of women, the acceptance of homosexuality, and the democratization of Church governance.
The fact that Cardinal Reinhard Marx, a prominent figure in this apostate German episcopate, had urged priests to offer blessings in a uniform manner to same-sex couples, even before the Vatican’s “clarification,” underscores the depth of the problem. These “bishops” are not merely disobedient; they are actively working to subvert the faith and lead souls astray. Their actions are a clear manifestation of the “enemies within” that St. Pius X warned against, those who, under the guise of “pastoral care” and “modernization,” seek to destroy the Church from within (*Pascendi Dominici gregis*).
The Post-Conciliar “Church”: A Paramasonic Structure of Apostasy
The entire episode, from *Fiducia Supplicans* to the current “clarification,” is a symptom of the profound spiritual sickness that has afflicted the post-conciliar structures. This “Church” is no longer the pillar and ground of truth (1 Tim. 3:15), but a “paramasonic structure” that has embraced the errors of the world and rejected the immutable teachings of Christ. The very concept of “pastoral care” has been redefined to mean affirming individuals in their sins rather than calling them to conversion and holiness.
The publication of the 2024 letter, while appearing to be a firm stance, is ultimately a futile attempt to contain the damage caused by its own prior modernist innovations. It is a testament to the fact that the post-conciliar “Church” is incapable of truly upholding Catholic doctrine, as its very foundations have been eroded by the “spirit of Vatican II.” The true Church, the Church of all ages, remains steadfast in her condemnation of all sexual immorality, including homosexual acts, and continues to call all men to live chaste lives according to their state, for “blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). The faithful must reject these modernist equivocations and cling to the unchanging truth, for “the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32), not the false freedom of moral relativism offered by the conciliar sect.
Source:
Vatican Publishes 2024 Letter Prohibiting Formal Blessings for Homosexual Couples in Germany (ncregister.com)
Date: 04.05.2026