Five Catholic dioceses in Germany refuse to follow bishops’ guidelines on LGBT blessings

Five Catholic dioceses in Germany have publicly announced that they will not implement the instructions issued by the German bishops in April 2025 regarding the blessing of same-sex and other “irregular” couples, Credo reports.

The bishops of the Augsburg, Eichstätt, Passau, and Regensburg dioceses stated that these guidelines go beyond the general norms of the Universal Church and cannot be implemented in their territories.

Earlier, at the end of July, the Archdiocese of Cologne, led by Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, made the same decision. In its statement, the clergy emphasized that they intend to adhere to the norms of the Universal Church while continuing to seek pastoral ways to care for such individuals.

It was also reported that Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Ukraine must provide legal protection for LGBTQ citizens if it seeks EU integration. He made this statement after meeting with Ukrainian LGBTQ military veterans and representatives of the Swedish LGBTQ organization RFSL.