text: For gays, its just marriage.  Both in their hearts and before the law.  The Church will catch up to civil practice, as it always has.  It turns out that some gay couples are, in fact, Catholic.  So are their families, who would like a celebration. Often the priest is too.  When you consider A.L., it just codifies what a lot of priests do with divorced couples.  Once they have been married for a while, they privately bless the union and let them back into Communion - and without much investigation. That happens with civilly married Catholics who were not previously married.  I am sure it does or will happen with gay unions. These blessings often don't make it onto the registry, but they occur nevertheless.  I am not arguing, by the way, I am reporting.