German bishop defends couples’ blessing guidelines

Bishop Georg Bätzing said Monday that he saw no need to withdraw guidance for German dioceses on blessings for unmarried and same-sex couples published in April.

German bishops’ conference chairman Bishop Georg Bätzing speaks at a press conference in Fulda on Sept. 22, 2025. Credit: Deutsche Bischofskonferenz / Marko Orlovic.

The chairman of the German bi…