Head of U.S. Melkite Catholic Church Issues Guidelines on Blessings for ‘Same-Sex Couples’

December 26, 2023

The head of the Melkite Catholic Church in the United States issued guidelines for the blessings of “couples in irregular situations” in the wake of the Pope’s recent statement on blessings for homosexual couples.

Bishop François Beyrouti of the Melkite Catholic Diocese of Newton, which represents the entire U.S., issued guidelines on Dec. 20 that reaffirmed the Church’s traditional stance on marriage, citing a passage from Genesis 1:27–28, which underscores the Church’s teaching of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

He also reminded the priests of their obligation to adhere strictly to the Melkite rite when celebrating weddings, except in cases where they have been granted special permission to use the Roman rite.

Beyrouti’s document also directs Melkite priests to obtain written permission from Beyrouti himself before performing blessings for “couples in irregular situations,” saying that “disregard for this prescription will result in canonical penalties.”

This move comes in the wake of the Vatican’s document “Fiducia Supplicans,” released on December 18, which sparked debate and varying interpretations among bishops regarding its implementation of blessings for “same-sex couples.”

The Melkite Catholic Church is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, but maintains its own liturgical rites and diocesan structure. The Diocese of Newton represents 20,000 Melkite Catholics across approximately 50 parishes throughout the United States.