The recent remarks from Pope Leo XIV regarding Fiducia Supplicans, informal blessings, and sexual morality require a response that is neither reactionary nor timid. A bishop must speak as a son of the Church, but also as a guardian of souls.

The central issue is not whether sinners may be blessed. Of course they may. Every one of us stands before God in need of mercy. The real question is whether the Church may bless a relationship or “couple” whose public bond contradicts the moral law of God.

That distinction is essential.

The Church may bless a person who is struggling, repenting, seeking grace, or asking for strength to leave sin behind. But the Church cannot bless a union that is itself objectively contrary to the Gospel. A blessing must never become a sign of approval for what God has not blessed.

Fiducia Supplicans states that blessings may be given to “couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples,” provided they are not ritualized or confused with marriage. But this is precisely where the confusion enters. However carefully the document tries to distinguish between blessing persons and blessing unions, the public act of blessing a “couple” inevitably appears to bless the relationship as such.

This is why so many faithful bishops, especially the bishops of Africa, saw the danger immediately. The African bishops stated that same-sex unions are contrary to the will of God and therefore cannot receive the blessing of the Church. Their objection was not cultural narrowness. It was fidelity to divine revelation.

Pope Leo is right to oppose formalized blessing ceremonies, such as those being pushed in Germany. Reports indicate that he reaffirmed the Vatican’s objection to formalized blessings while maintaining the informal blessings permitted under Pope Francis. But the deeper problem remains: once the Church permits even informal blessings of “couples” in objectively sinful unions, the line has already been crossed in the minds of many faithful.

The Church must welcome every sinner. But welcome is not the same as affirmation. Mercy is not the same as ambiguity. Pastoral care is not the same as softening the call to conversion.

Christ did not say to the woman caught in adultery merely, “You are welcome.” He said, “Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more.” That is the Gospel: mercy and conversion together.

It is also troubling when sexual sin is treated as though it is a lesser moral matter compared to justice, freedom, or equality. Certainly, the Church must speak about every grave moral evil. But sexual morality is not a marginal issue. It touches marriage, family, children, the human body, the image of God, and the very meaning of love.

To suggest that sexual sin should not be a central concern risks ignoring the great harm caused when the truth about the body, marriage, and chastity is obscured.

The Church cannot build unity by avoiding difficult truths. Real unity is unity in Christ, and Christ is Truth. A unity purchased by silence, ambiguity, or compromise is not the unity of the Church; it is merely institutional quiet.

As a bishop, I must say clearly in this moment:

• The Church loves every person.
• The Church calls every person to conversion.
• The Church cannot bless sin.
• Marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman.
• Sexual relations outside that covenant are objectively sinful.
• No pastoral practice may contradict the doctrine it claims to preserve.

The tragedy of this moment is that many souls are being left confused. Some will hear these remarks and believe the Church is slowly changing her teaching. Others will feel abandoned because they are trying to live chastely while Church leaders speak ambiguously. Still others will conclude that doctrine remains on paper but no longer governs pastoral practice.

That cannot be allowed to stand.

My concern is not anger. It is grief. Grief that the Church’s voice has become uncertain where Christ was clear. Grief that mercy is being separated from repentance. Grief that faithful Catholics are being asked to accept confusion in the name of unity.

That is the heart of the matter.

Bishop Joseph E. Strickland 
Bishop Emeritus