Pope Francis has allowed priests to bless same-sex couples, a significant advance for LGBT people in the Roman Catholic Church.
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church said priests should be permitted to bless same-sex and "irregular" couples, under certain circumstances.
But the Vatican said blessings should not be part of regular Church rituals or related to civil unions or weddings.
It added that it continues to view marriage as between a man and a woman.
Pope Francis approved a document issued by the Vatican announcing the change on Monday. The Vatican said it should be a sign that "God welcomes all", but the document says priests must decide on a case-by-case basis.
Introducing the text, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Church, said that the new declaration remained "firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage".
But he added that in keeping with the Pope's "pastoral vision" of "broadening" the appeal of the Catholic Church, the new guidelines would allow priests to bless relationships still considered sinful.
People receiving a blessing "should not be required to have prior moral perfection", according to the declaration.
Tafsiri isiyo rasmi
Papa Francis amewaruhusu makasisi kuwabariki wapenzi wa jinsia moja, maendeleo makubwa kwa watu wa LGBT katika Kanisa Katoliki la Roma. Kiongozi wa Kanisa Katoliki la Roma alisema makasisi wanapaswa kuruhusiwa kubariki watu wa jinsia moja na wanandoa "wasiokuwa wa kawaida", chini ya hali fulani. Lakini Vatikani ilisema baraka hazipaswi kuwa sehemu ya taratibu za kawaida za Kanisa au zinazohusiana na miungano ya kiraia au harusi. Iliongeza kuwa inaendelea kuiona ndoa kuwa kati ya mwanamume na mwanamke. Papa Francis aliidhinisha waraka uliotolewa na Vatican kutangaza mabadiliko hayo siku ya Jumatatu. Vatikani ilisema inapaswa kuwa ishara kwamba "Mungu anawakaribisha wote", lakini waraka huo unasema makasisi lazima waamue kwa msingi wa kesi baada ya kesi. Akitambulisha andiko hilo, Kadinali Víctor Manuel Fernández, mkuu wa Kanisa, alisema kwamba tamko jipya lilibaki "imara kwenye mafundisho ya kitamaduni ya Kanisa kuhusu ndoa". Lakini aliongeza kuwa kwa kuzingatia "maono ya kichungaji" ya Papa ya "kupanua" rufaa ya Kanisa Katoliki, miongozo hiyo mipya itawaruhusu mapadre kubariki uhusiano ambao bado unachukuliwa kuwa wa dhambi. Watu wanaopokea baraka "hawapaswi kuhitajika kuwa na ukamilifu wa maadili", kulingana na tamko hilo.
Hivyo kutokana na tamko hili la Vatican tunapaswa kupaza sauti kuu ya kupinga kwa nguvu zote jambo hili na ikiwezekana sisi tusio na dini tuandike waraka na kusambaza kwenye vijiwe vyote vya kahawa,magengeni,minadani, kwenye mabaa, kwenye viwanja vya michezo ili usomwe kila iitwapo leo kama ambavyo wenzetu walifanya kupinga mkataba mbovu wa DP - World.Naandaa utaratibu wa kukutana na wanasheria,watetezi wa maadili wasio na mrengo wowote wa kidini ili tuweze kuandaa waraka utakaokiokoa kizazi chetu.Nakaribisha maoni zaidi na naomba radhi kwa kuingilia masuala ya dini zenu ila mimi natetea jamii yetu isiyo na hatia.
