The Catholic bishops of Flanders, the Flemish-speaking section of Belgium, have made public a proposed service of blessings for same-sex unions.

Led by Cardinal Jozef De Kesel of Brussels, the bishops published a document entitled “Being pastorally close to homosexual persons,” which provides a script for a liturgical service in which a couple can “express before God how they are committed to one another.”

The document appears to be a direct challenge to the Vatican directive, issued last year, that the Church cannot give blessings to homosexual unions. That challenge comes shortly before the bishops of Belgium are due to make their ad limina visit to Rome.