A couple in love © 4 PM production (shutterstock)
In the Osnabruck diocese, several "blessing services for lovers" will take place in the next few days, to which homosexual couples are also welcome. Lovers are invited to be blessed, the diocese announced.
To this end, special services would be offered in numerous churches of the diocese.
The organizers are thus joining an initiative of Catholic chaplains who are campaigning nationwide for the 10. May around to "blessing services for lovers" calls. She is reacting to the Vatican's no to the blessing of homosexual couples, which had also met with criticism among German theologians and some bishops.
Raise voice
"In view of the refusal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to bless homosexual partnerships, we raise our voices and say: we will continue to accompany people who commit themselves to a binding partnership and bless their relationship," reads an appeal.
In the diocese of Osnabruck, according to the diocese, blessing services are offered in Ankum, Bad Laer, Furstenau, Georgsmarienhutte-Holzhausen, Haselunne, Lingen-Laxten, Osnabruck, Quakenbruck, Sogel and Twistringen, among other places. A nationwide overview is available at www.love wins.de.