Vatican move on same-sex 'blessings' draws praise, criticism in U.S. flock

Pope Francis on Monday approved priests blessing same-sex couples, sparking criticism from conservative Catholics and praise from the LGBTQ community. Such blessings would not rise to the level of church-sanctioned same-sex marriages, the Vatican cautioned but would offer gay Catholics the opportunity to seek God's mercy without being subjected to "an exhaustive moral analysis."

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