Same sex marriage will be without any type of Church’s ritual: Shillong Archdiocese

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 22, 2023

The Shillong Archdiocese on Friday said the same sex marriage will be conducted by a Catholic priest with a condition of no type of ritual of the Church that resemble a marriage rite.

This was informed by Archbishop of Shillong Archdiocese Victor Lyngdoh in a circular to the priests, religious and faithful of the Archdiocese of Shillong.

The circular informed the Catholic Church issued the declaration “Fiducia Supplicans” on the 18th December 2023 through The Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith and approved by Pope Francis.

The Declaration stressed on the pastoral meaning of blessings, the Archbishop said “this is a spontaneous prayer of a priest with informal words.”

He also underlined, “This is not to be mistaken as the official liturgical and ritual blessings of the Church during marriage.”

The circular asserted the declaration does not change the Catholic Doctrine of Marriage and the blessing does not signify approval of the union.

“Let us keep the sanctity of Marriage in the Church,” appealed the Shillong Archbishop.