FRANKFURT, Germany (LifeSiteNews) — A former priest who helped draft the German bishops’ guidance document on “blessings” for same-sex “couples” has stated that there was coordination with Church authorities before its publication, challenging the testimony of Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández.

On May 22, in an interview published by German Catholic outlet katholisch.de, co-author Stefan Diefenbach – a former priest who left religious life and is now in a homosexual “marriage” – addressed continuing criticism of Germany’s controversial Segen gibt der Liebe Kraft (“Blessing Gives Strength to Love”) document by the Vatican. As a principal author of the document, Diefenbach has said Vatican officials, and the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in particular, held consultations with the German Church before the text was published.

Diefenbach’s statement echoes that made by German theologian Thomas Söding, who in April said the guide was made “in consultation with Rome.” Fernández, however, has asserted that no firm agreement existed.

“Cardinal Fernández has emphasized several times that there were no detailed agreements with the Church in Germany – and certainly no approval of the Vatican to the text. Is he right about that?” the interviewer asked. “This is probably also a matter of interpretation,” Diefenbach answered.

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Although Diefenbach said he had not personally participated in meetings held in Rome, he stated that he trusted reports given to the drafting group by Bishop Stephan Ackermann, the bishops’ conference official responsible for liturgical matters. “There were discussions and votes and, yes, also the letter from Cardinal Fernández, which has now been made public.”

The letter of Fernández referenced is dated November 18, 2024, and addresses the German bishops’ then-proposed homosexual “blessings” instruction, rejecting the guidance just months before the bishops published it. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published its letter in May 2026.

“Because of his criticism, the guidance was in fact completely revised once again,” Diefenbach said. “I was surprised at the vehemence with which the criticism was voiced and I sometimes wonder whether the text was translated correctly and whether the people who criticize it really read it seriously.”

The document “Blessing Gives Strength to Love” was issued on April 4, 2025, by a joint body of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) and the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK). The guidance was addressed on April 23, 2026, by Pope Leo XIV and, on May 6, 2026, by Fernández, both of whom have stated that blessing practices in Germany go “beyond” that introduced in Pope Francis’ 2023 declaration Fiducia supplicans.

The Vatican document permitted spontaneous “blessings” of irregular “couples,” not simply individuals, while insisting that they must not resemble liturgical rites or create confusion with marriage.

Diefenbach acknowledged that the German document envisages a more extensive preparation process than the brief spontaneous blessings described by Fernández.

He defended that approach by arguing that couples seeking a blessing expect more than a passing gesture and that meaningful preparation is part of a responsible pastoral practice. “‘Blessing’ and ‘non-solemn’ is a contradiction in terms! For me, of course, this is liturgy, even if no approved texts and forms are used,” he said.

He also maintained that the German text attempted to reconcile two different realities: the decisions adopted by the Synodal Way in Germany and the restrictions laid down by Fiducia supplicans. “Ultimately, it is the squaring of the circle and it was clear to us that we could bump into all corners with it,” Diefenbach stated.

“The text is trying precisely to bring both together,” Diefenbach said. “On the one hand there is the Synodal Way’s resolution, which goes considerably further than what we formulated. On the other hand there is the Vatican with its requirements, to which the guidance refers in many places.”

READ: Polish Catholics issue scathing critique of Synod’s final document: ‘Deeply anti-Catholic’

According to Diefenbach, the draft text was revised at the suggestion of Fernández and, in keeping with the guidance of Fiducia supplicans, it “clearly indicates that the blessing is to be given with great freedom and spontaneity; that no approved liturgical celebrations or prayers are provided; and that there should be no confusion with a divine service or the sacrament of marriage. However, this is neither appreciated nor mentioned by the critics.”

Looking ahead, Diefenbach expressed hope that Germany’s bishops would continue to defend the Synodal Way’s resolutions in forthcoming discussions with the Vatican. He also pointed to previous indications of openness to dialogue from Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

According to German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine, Diefenbach, after having been laicized following 25 years as a priest in a religious order, has launched an active campaign against Traditional Catholic moral doctrine, advocating a “radical reform” of the Church.

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