The German Discussion on Blessing Services for Irregular Couples

Abstract

In the Catholic Church in Germany, there has been a long-standing discussion about the blessing of couples who have not formalised their union through the sacrament of marriage. Between the publication of the Responsum ad Dubium in February 2021 and Fiducia Supplicans in December 2023, and as a result of the Synodaler Weg within the Church (2019–2023), the concerns of couples who feel excluded and discriminated against by the Church came into focus. One possible way to include these couples in the community of the Church could be the official introduction of a liturgical celebration that would allow the Church to acknowledge and bless them. This article aims to provide an overview of the German Roman Catholic efforts to promote blessing services.