In a surprising turn of events, the Vatican has blessed same-sex couples under specific conditions, marking a little break from the Catholic Church's traditional stance on homosexuality.

Vatican's Blessings: An Acknowledgement, Not an Endorsement of Same-sex Relationship

The Vatican has emphasized that the blessing does not indicate an endorsement of homosexual acts, which they still consider sinful. The blessings merely acknowledge the “lifelong commitment of same-sex couples.” The details of these conditions have not been fully disclosed, according to Reuters.

Pope Francis, known for his somewhat progressive views, has been the driving force behind this change. His even limited support for same-sex unions sets him apart from his predecessors and adds a dimension to the Church's engagement with sexuality and marriage issues. They seem determined to maintain their awkward discomfort and disdain.

Blessings too little and too late?

At the heart of the debate of course is the fact that this issue — like the rotation of the sun around the moon, evolutionary theory, contraception, divorce, adoption, the role of women, and considering what LGBTQ lives to be defined by sin –is question of traditional teachings remaining stubbornly out of sync with scientific facts, and changed societal attitudes, even by a majority of members ion the church.

German Priests Have Gone Rogue. US Church Attendance is in Free Fall

This type of separate and not liturgical blessing may be literally the least they could do. The Vatican has been unable to do anything about priests in Germany going rogue to bless unions and others continue to bless gay couples quietly around the world.

Responses will undoubtedly be mixed, as are the reasons behind making this move right now. While there are clearly some in the Vatican concerned with recognizing our humanity, likely as many or more hope to slow the free-fall in church affiliation and attendance of recent decades. It's a move similar and cynical as the increased corporate presence at Pride Events driven by recruiting needs. A show of company values to get young heterosexual Millennial and Gen Z workers.

By The Folks Who Sexually Molested Millions of Kids and Covered it Up…

Then, of course there is the elephant in the room. The insane hypocrisy of priests being restrained or at all judgmental about blessing anyone, let alone upstanding gay couples of majority age in supportive relationships is not likely to be acknowledged any time soon. (The number of children sexually molested by priests globally is estimated to be in the millions. Here's an AP global roundup.)

It's been more than 33 years since ACT Up and WHAM's STOP The Church action in New York to protest the Cardinal and Church policies discriminating people with AIDS even under their substantial contracts to provide public care, denying reproductive health, refusing to allow condom use,. Among the more controversial, most widely covered, and most reflexively condemned protest by the group, it actually sparked mainstream groups like GMHC to ask more of the church, catalyzed local change and provided another frame for talking about its role. .

So, there's alway a possibility this announcement will lead even more Catholics to leave when offered more concrete proof that their church is not getting there any time soon, and they won't likely be alive to see it.

Many, many — if not a majority of — American Catholics have come a long way already. 76% favor changing the ban on contraceptives and they may join the rest of the country in seeing this announcement as so very little and so late.

All that said, this decision does indicate the possibility of a new era of openness within the Church, though many clergy globally oppose any movement. It may be the first in a long line of drawn out tortured steps to bring the church in line with changing societal attitudes towards homosexuality and same-sex relationships.

When they get there will anyone be around to care?