In protest against Rome: Munich priest blesses same

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Parish vicar Wolfgang Rothe blesses the couple Christine Walter (left) and Almut Münster at a Catholic service

Photo: Felix Hörhager / dpa

Several same-sex couples were blessed in a Catholic church service in Munich on Sunday.

"Heaven was open," said Pastor Wolfgang Rothe after the somewhat historical service in the Catholic Church of St. Benedict.

He wanted to "set an example".

"My concern is to get it out of the church backyards - to where it belongs: in the middle of church life," said Rothe.

Catholic priests all over Germany want to offer blessing services for all loving couples under the motto #liebegewinnt - regardless of whether they are gay, lesbian or straight.

It is an orchestrated protest against the recent categorical ban on the blessing of homosexual couples by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican.

Nationwide, Catholic parishes also hold so-called blessing celebrations "for all lovers" on Mondays (from 9.45 am).

The action is aimed, among other things, at homosexuals and demonstratively disregards the position of the Vatican.

Around a hundred congregations take part in the services organized by priests, deacons and volunteers around May 10th.

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A rainbow flag flies in front of the St. Christophorus motorway church on the edge of the blessing of same-sex couples

Photo: Benedikt Spether / dpa

The blessing services are the temporary climax of a wave that the Vatican has triggered among many Catholics in Germany and now also among Catholic priests with its no.

He is not afraid of the consequences, says Priest Rothe: "We are swimming on a wave of sympathy."

mjm / dpa