African Bishops Oppose Blessing of Same-Sex Couples
In late 2023, the Vatican proposed the blessing of same-sex couples by priests. The bishops of Africa have responded, calling it a “shockwave” and rejecting the proposal.
The African bishops have overwhelmingly rejected the Vatican’s proposed blessing of same-sex couples, according to a statement by Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, the president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
This is in response to the Vatican’s statement “Fiducia supplicans” issued on December 18, 2023. The statement recommended the blessing of same-sex couples while emphasizing that it should not be confused with the sacrament of marriage.
Cardinal’s Proposal Creates a “Shockwave”
In the statement, Ambongo summarized the results of a survey conducted over the past two weeks among all the bishops’ conferences in Africa and Madagascar. The proposal from Rome has created a “shockwave” and misunderstandings within the African Church, causing unrest among believers and pastoral workers, wrote Ambongo.
The survey conducted among the bishops’ conferences revealed a broad consensus on the issue of marriage and family, as well as a unified stance on same-sex couples. In conclusion, the cardinal stated, “We, the African bishops, do not consider it appropriate to bless homosexual unions or same-sex couples. In our context, this would create confusion and go against the cultural norms of African societies.”
The statement further read, “The language used in ‘Fiducia supplicans’ is too subtle for ordinary people to understand. Moreover, it is not very convincing that people who live as couples permanently would not derive legitimacy for their status from it.”
Bishops Have Authority to Decide on Blessings
Ambongo hinted that there are different viewpoints in some African countries, who would require “more time” for deeper reflection.
The statement also emphasized that Catholic pastors should treat people in “irregular situations” with kindness and support, including those with a homosexual orientation. Furthermore, each bishop has the autonomy to decide whether to allow such blessings in their diocese. However, the overall stance of the African bishops’ conferences is to refrain from offering blessings for same-sex couples.
