Africa’s 781 bishops jointly rejected the paper order to bless same-sex couples

On behalf of the 781 African bishops, it reflects the Episcopal Conference of the countries of the continent “inappropriate” and “unacceptable” the possibility of blessing same-sex couples in Africa, where 253 million Catholic faithful live. The Episcopalians then rejected the statement “Trust requires” approved by the Pope on December 18 which allows the pastoral blessing of homosexual couples.

The Pope’s document clarifies that pastoral blessings They should not be confused with weddings and other Catholic rites in which the blessings are liturgical, sacred…

“We African bishops do not consider it appropriate for Africa to bless homosexual unions or same-sex couples, because in our context this it would cause confusion and it would be in direct contradiction with the cultural spirit of African communities”, reads a message from the president of the Episcopal Conference of Africa, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, who is part of the commission of nine cardinals advising the Pope, reportedly consulted the text of the declaration with the pontiff himself before making it public.

With this document the African bishops affirmed that the Bible clarifies homosexuality “It is explicitly forbidden and is considered an unnatural and shameful abomination.”

“Tucho” Fernandez

The document approved by the Pope on December 18 was prepared by the prefect for the doctrine of the faith, the Argentine cardinal Vittorio Fernandez.

Cardinal Ambongo, archbishop of Kinsaha, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, recalled that according to his interpretation of the Holy Scriptures “rites and prayers that could blurs the definition of marriage “as an exclusive, stable and indissoluble union between a man and a woman”.

The approval of the pontifical document authorizing the pastoral blessing for homosexual couples has occurred a spectacular crisis breaks out world in the Church, sharpening the confrontation between traditionalists and progressives.

In the document of the African bishops, Cardinal Ambongo underlines that “in addition to the biblical reasons, the cultural context in Africa, deeply rooted in the values ​​of the natural lawl on marriage and family, further complicates the acceptance of same-sex unions, as they are considered contradictory to cultural norms”.

He popular rejection of homosexualitydue to historical roots and national cultures, they do not allow the blessings of homosexual couples in Africa to be realized “without exposing themselves to scandals”.

The president of the African bishops noted that “however, the continent’s episcopal conferences underline that people with homosexual tendencies must be treated with respect and dignity, remembering, however, that homosexual unions are contrary to the will of God and, therefore, cannot be blessed by the Church”.

Out of a total of 72 countries that criminalize same-sex relationships in the world, there are 32 African nations that legislate them as punishable crimes in some cases even with the death penalty or a life sentence.