The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has reacted to the “Fiducia Supplicans” declaration on the pastoral significance of blessings, published by the Vatican earlier this month.
The declaration, approved by the Pope, states that the blessing can be given to same sex couples, but without imitating or simulating a marriage rite. However, the UGCC noted that the declaration in question applies only to the Latin Church and not to the Eastern Catholic Churches, reports its press service.
In a special Communiqué, the Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) explained that the declaration takes no account of the peculiarities of Eastern traditions. In addition, the UGCC has its own liturgical, theological, and spiritual heritage.
“… Based on the canon of 1492 of the Canon Code of Eastern Churches (Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium), this Declaration concerns purely the Latin Church and has no legal force for the faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church,” the statement reads.
The very concept of “blessing” in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic rite means approval or permission for certain actions, practices, or fasts. Such a blessing always has a catechetical dimension to it and cannot contradict the teachings of the Catholic Church.
