The first church blessing of same-sex couples in Poland has taken place, involving both Catholic and Protestant clergy. Among the couples blessed were practising Catholics Artur and Jan.
“This blessing is very important to us; it is an extra injection of strength for our further life together,” Artur told Wprost. “We are both believers. Faith allowed us to survive the numerous crises that appeared in our lives. Sometimes it was the strongest anchor that kept us alive.”
Jan added, “We are ordinary people; we love and suffer just like everyone else. Hate is the most destructive feeling. And love of God and neighbour is the most important commandment resulting from the teachings of Jesus.”
The ceremony in Warsaw was led by Michał Jabłoński, pastor of the Evangelical Reformed Parish Church, along with a pastor from the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, Poland’s largest Protestant denomination, and a Roman Catholic priest.
The Catholic Church in Poland has traditionally held a highly conservative stance on issues related to the LGBTQ+ community. However, a recent development from the Vatican has signaled a shift in approach. Last year, the Vatican issued a declaration that permits priests to bless members of unmarried couples, including same-sex partners.
Uschi Pawlik, a representative of the Faith and Rainbow Foundation who helped organize one such blessing service, acknowledged the controversy that still exists among Catholic believers. “But Pope Francis clearly shows a change in thinking about relationships in the Church and a transition from rigid rules and principles to pastoral flexibility,” Pawlik told the Polish news outlet Wprost. She noted that there are an increasing number of Polish Roman Catholic priests who now openly support LGBTQ+ individuals.
This Vatican-sanctioned development represents a notable evolution in the Catholic Church’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues, at least compared to Poland’s traditionally conservative position. While opposition remains, the shift toward greater acceptance and flexibility, as exemplified by Pope Francis’ leadership, indicates a gradual but meaningful change within the Polish Catholic community.