Piece by: JAMES MBAKA

27 December 2023

• He added that it also covers the Catholic Church's opposition to homosexual marriage.

The global debate surrounding Pope Francis' decision allowing priests to bless unmarried and same-sex couples has caused divides within the Roman Catholic Church.

Catholic bishops have expressed opposition to the Pope's guidelines, stating that it is against God's word and established church beliefs to approve same-sex partnerships and activities. These bishops are notably from Africa.

Priests were instructed by the Nairobi Archbishop Philip Anyolo, the head of the Kenyan Catholic Church, to disregard the directive and keep refusing to bless same-sex couples.

Anyolo stated in a statement on Sunday that the church will uphold the traditional Catholic teaching on marriage and the family.

He added that it also covers the Catholic Church's opposition to homosexual marriage.

“To make sure the fundamental doctrinal positions affirmed in the Declaration and the perennial teachings of the Church on marriage, is upheld, all Clergy residing and ministering in the Archdiocese of Nairobi are prohibited from blessing irregular relationships, unions, same-sex couples,” he said.

Pope Francis's remarks about same-sex couples being blessed were clarified by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops on December 20.

They stressed that the Pope did not support same-sex marriages and did not give priests permission to provide liturgical blessings for them.

The KCCB's chairman, Martin Kivuva Musonde, explained that the Pope's instruction was to simply welcome same-sex couples into the church in the hopes that their experience of salvation could result in transformation.

“This document seeks to awaken the invitation of all people to God's action and grace. The Church seeks to reach out to all individuals, to stir them to the path of conversion and salvation," he said.

A report from the Vatican’s doctrinal office said such blessings would be permitted, albeit with caveats.

"It will be possible to bless same-sex couples but without any type of ritualisation or offering the impression of a marriage,” the report said.

"The doctrine regarding marriage does not change, and the blessing does not signify approval of the union".

Pope Francis had indicated in October that he would be willing to allow same-sex couples to receive a Catholic Church blessing.

The Vatican office's revelation overturned the 2021 declaration, which said that God "cannot bless sin" and thus precluded blessings for same-sex couples.

Within the Catholic Church, a blessing consists of a prayer or entreaty, typically recited by a clergyman, requesting that God provide favour to the individual or individuals receiving the blessing.

Nigerian bishops stated that supporting same-sex marriage is against church teachings, national laws, and Nigerian cultural sensibilities as the Pope's message continues to cause uncertainty.

The bishops emphasised that the Catholic Church's teachings on marriage remained unchanged in a statement signed by Most Rev. Donatus Ogun and Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, the president and secretary of the CBCN, respectively.

“There is, therefore, no possibility in the Church of blessing same-sex unions and activities; that will go against God’s law, the teachings of the church, the laws of our nation and the cultural sensibilities of our people.

“We thank all the priests for their accompaniment of married couples, asking them to continue in all they do to sustain the sacrament of Holy Matrimony and never to do anything that will detract from the sacredness of this sacrament,” the Nigerian Catholic Bishops said.

Blessings for same-sex couples were "not for implementation in Zambia," according to the bishops conference of Zambia. The Malawian bishops conference said that "same-sex unions of any kind" would not be eligible for "blessings of any kind."

Gay sex is punishable by law in Zambia with a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in prison; it is classified with bestiality.

In the meanwhile, homosexual behaviour carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence in Malawi, with the risk of corporal punishment for anyone found guilty.

Citing the nation's anti-homosexuality laws and highlighting its cultural tradition that rejects same-sex unions as justification for their position, Zambian bishops have argued for "further reflection" on blessings.

The Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference, headquartered in South Africa, where same-sex marriage is legal due to a liberal constitution, seems to be in favour of gay couples receiving blessings since it affirms that "nobody is outside God's grace."

However, it stated that "the blessing is done with the hope of conversion" according to its understanding of the proclamation.

Thirty-one of Africa's fifty-four nations have laws that make homosexuality illegal—more than any other continent, according to the Human Dignity Trust, an organisation that works to protect LGBTQ+ rights.

Although bishops in a number of nations, such as Germany and Belgium, started to let priests to bless same-sex couples, it was unclear what the Church's official stance was.