(OSV News) — A German Catholic spokesman has defended his church’s approach to blessing same-sex couples, despite evidence of deep disagreement among the country’s bishops. “Members of the German bishops’ conference and Central Committee of German Catholics have adopted a guide for pastoral workers on blessing couples not married in church — they’ve recommended diocesan bishops proceed in accordance with its spirit,” explained Matthias Kopp, spokesman for the German bishops. However, a senior observer told OSV News that Germany’s bishops were irrevocably divided over same-sex blessings, with many believing the new four-page handout violated rules set out by the Vatican. However, in its survey, Katholisch.de said the April guidance had been “received very differently” across the German church. “The new pope knows the situation here well, having taken part in many recent discussions with German bishops.