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00:00 a historic step by the Catholic Church and a further rapprochement towards LGBTQ people.
00:06 Clerics will now be allowed to bless same-sex couples, albeit with some provisos.
00:10 "The Vatican's new declaration permits priests, bishops and deacons as well to bless
00:17 same-sex couples as long as it's not being confused with some sort of sacramental rite
00:23 or liturgical ceremony.
00:25 And it is the first time that this has happened, and so yesterday I couldn't bless same-sex
00:30 couples in any sort of public setting and today with certain limitations I can."
00:35 It comes 11 months after Pope Francis made a conciliatory gesture towards the gay community.
00:41 "People with homosexual tendencies are children of God.
00:49 God loves them.
00:52 God is with them."
00:56 Pope Francis' time in office has been characterized by a liberalization of papal rhetoric, but
01:02 the move still took activists by surprise.
01:04 "I'm particularly struck that this comes just about two and a half years after the
01:12 same Vatican office issued a document saying that same-sex couples could not be blessed
01:18 by the church.
01:19 So this is actually a very, very rapid change in direction."
01:25 However, same-sex couples are still excluded from Catholic sacraments such as marriage.
01:31 Some activists are willing to be patient.
01:34 "For those like us, gay people, who live in couples, this is obviously not completely
01:42 acceptable but we recognize that it is a really great step forward."
01:50 Full acceptance of sexual minorities is still a long way off, but for now, LGBTQ Catholics
01:56 will rejoice in a nearly Christmas present.