Archbishop Heiner Koch of the RCC Berlin has spoken in favor of freedom in “blessing” homosexual couples. Priests subordinate to the bishop also now have the choice to perform these acts, reports domradio.de.

According to Heiner Koch, he will now not impose any disciplinary measures on priests who “bless” homosexuals if they do so in “special situations” and “for pastoral reasons.”

The bishop added that he himself will “bless” homosexual couples after official authorization from the Vatican.