The Flemish-speaking Belgian bishops, who spent last week on an ‘ad limina’ visit to the Vatican that included meetings in the main offices of the Roman Curia, spoke "openly" with the Pope of the possible ordination of married menof the need to deepen the question of women deaconesses and of the blessing to homosexual couples.
This has been revealed by the Archbishop of Brussels, Cardinal Jozef de Kesel, in a meeting at the Belgian embassy before the Holy See reported by the Italian media.
"We have talked about homosexual couples, we have talked about the viri probati (married men of proven faith ordained priests, ed.), we have talked about the possibility of the diaconate for women"De Kesel has pointed out.
The Flemish bishops were the first to officially ask the Vatican to contemplate the blessing of same-sex couples after approving that a "prayer time" before the homosexual faithful who mutually commit themselves before God, although they pointed out that this is clearly differentiated from sacramental marriage.
In February 2021, the Vatican prohibited any ecclesiastical blessing for homosexual couples, as well as any rite comparable to marriage between a man and a woman.. "God does not bless sin", then pointed out the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in a document. However, the Flemish bishops have made it clear that this is not a direct blessing of gay couples, although they pointed out that the door is open.
"Of course we talked about it, I talked about it myself, I was very glad that I could talk about it"De Kesel declared after the meeting the Pope. "What we wanted to do was structure the pastoral care a bit, so that, in each diocese, within the family pastoral team, there is someone who deals with the problem. In Rome we were able to talk about it and we felt heard: this does not mean that my interlocutor necessarily agrees with me, but we were able to discuss it. We must help these people, if we don’t help them they are lost"has assured the Archbishop of Brussels.
The position of Cardinal De Kesel is known for clashing with the guidelines of the doctrine and morality of the Catholic Church, since he has declared on various occasions that it is not correct to demand chastity, as the Catechism says, of a homosexual person who has not opted for the consecrated life.
"Can these people be asked to live in chastity? You have to be realistic… I have read a position in this regard by the President of the John Paul II Pontifical Institute for the Family, Monsignor Phlippe Bordeyne, according to which no one can be deprived of God’s blessing", he said about it. However, during meetings in the Vatican, he has indicated that he felt "heard and respected". "I guess not everyone we talk to shares my opinion. But discernment is needed, it’s a new topic, it takes time"has added.
Likewise, he also pointed out that the Flemish-speaking Belgian bishops – whose last ‘ad limina’ visit to the Vatican was in 2010 – spoke with the heads of the Roman Curia "on the decline in vocations" as well as the possibility of "diaconate for women" in line with "the importance of women in the Church" that stood out as "a very important matter".
"According to historical, theological and exegetical studies, it seems that the female diaconate has existed, and even with the laying on of hands, as a ministry: it cannot be denied. The Pope has created two commissions on the subject"De Kesel has pointed out.