Catholic Bishops in Nigeria have openly rejected the recent directive from Pope Francis regarding the blessing of same-sex marriages (homosexual).
The President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, delivered a speech on Sunday, February 18, expressing the bishops’ disapproval of the Pope’s stance.
The rejection is in response to the Declaration, Fiducia Supplicans (On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings), issued on December 18, 2023, by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
According to Ugorji, the document has caused confusion and diverse reactions globally, as it seemingly restricts liturgical blessings for same-sex couples while endorsing spontaneous pastoral blessings for couples in irregular situations, including same-sex unions (homosexual).
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Ugorji stated, “We must sincerely admit that the Declaration, Fiducia Supplicans (On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings), issued on December 18, 2023, by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, has added to our pains.
“While the document prohibits liturgical blessings for same-sex couples, it recommends at the same time spontaneous pastoral blessings for couples in irregular situations, including the blessing of same-sex couples.
“It further stressed that such pastoral blessing should not be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union and not even in connection with it, nor can it be performed with any clothing, gestures, or words that are proper to a wedding.
“Given the ambiguities in the declaration, the document quickly aroused mixed reactions of acceptance, scepticism, and outright rejection from Episcopal Conferences and individual Bishops across the world,” he added.
Speaking further, he articulated, “In the midst of this confusion and pushback, we must, as Pastors with the pastoral task of safeguarding the deposit of faith in its purity and integrity, uphold the teaching of the Church based on Holy Scripture and Tradition.
“We shouldn’t be conformed to this world but be transformed by renewing our minds, so we may discern what the will of God is, what is good, acceptable, and perfect. We must continue to teach our faithful that there is no possibility of blessing same-sex couples or same-sex unions (homosexual) in the Church in Africa.
“Homosexual acts are of grave depravity, intrinsically disordered, and above all, contrary to natural law. In furtherance of our pastoral and prophetic mission, we must also continue to stress that God loves the sinner unconditionally and calls him to repentance so that he might live.”
Also speaking, the Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, said the conference was an opportunity to get clearer information or education on several issues concerning the church and its doctrine.
“The Divine Physician does not only prescribe prayer, almsgiving and fasting. He also calls us to walk together in synodality, which is part of the theme for the conference. Synodality has its roots in the early Christian community,” he said.
“But the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has given it prominence in his bid to emphasize the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit and the voices of all segments of the faithful in decision making in the Church, where decisions are made collectively and the community’s well-being takes precedence over individual interests; where dialogue is promoted and active participation encouraged.
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“No matter what some people might think, synodality is not about changing the traditional rudiments of Catholic faith and practice or legitimizing the ill effects of secularism. Synodality resonates with our African culture because we always do things together as a family, and we consult the members of the family to make collective decisions based on the African principle.
“We must listen to the rest of the universal church, just as our African culture, ethics and morality have much to offer to our universal family, the Church. The opposite of synodality is clericalism, which Pope Francis calls a scandal,” he disclosed. #homosexual
