On blessing same-sex unions
I am a Presbyterian but this thing about blessing same-sex relationships has been decreed in the Roman Catholic Church. I have Roman Catholic friends and some of my closest relations and acquaintances are Roman Catholics. Our common denominator is that whether Roman Catholic, Presbyterian or Pentecostal, we are all Christians and ascribe to the same teachings of Jesus Christ. But there are serious differences in the way we interpret the teachings. It has emerged that some of the clergy within the Roman Catholic Church do not agree with their Holy Father Pope Francis’ new position on blessing same-sex couples.
The matter at hand, which has been discussed extensively in various fora, is whether Pope Francis is right to formally permit Roman Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples as contained in his document Fiducia Supplicans. This declaration is a significant shift from the Roman Catholic Church’s approach to LGBTQ+people. In 2021, the Vatican doctrine office barred any blessings for same-sex couples, saying God ‘cannot bless sin’.
But the Vatican’s latest ruling says same-sex unmarried couples can be ‘blessed’ “without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage.”
Suffice to say the Roman Catholic Church teaching on marriage is that sex should only take place within marriage.
My understanding is that the Pope has changed his understanding, interpretation and application of ‘blessings’. And this change in his stance on the subject-matter has plunged Catholics (and non-Catholics alike) into confusion. But of more significance on the matter is that some Catholic clergy the world over strongly feel the Pope has turned tables upside down on a crucial doctrinal issue. He has reneged on his own previous decree on same-sex couples. The bishops are, therefore, having nothing to do with the Pope’s new decree.
In this part of Africa, we have the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) bishops who have stated in no uncertain terms that in Malawi blessing of same-sex couples is not allowed. The bishops acknowledge in their clarification on the pastoral meaning of ‘blessings’ issued on December 19 in Lilongwe that the papal declaration is “not about the blessing of same-sex unions and sacramental endorsement of the same as married couples”. But they unequivocally state that to avoid creating confusion among the faithful “we direct that for pastoral reasons, ‘blessings’ of any kind for same-sex unions are not permitted in Malawi.”
In short, the nine Catholic bishops in the country have rejected the pope’s teaching on the matter.
It is the same story in Zambia. The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) firmly stuck to the ZCCB September 29 2022 ruling that “under no circumstances can same-sex unions be approved. This is based on the sacred scripture which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity (Gen19:1—29; Rom 1:24—27; Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10). “To avoid any pastoral confusion and ambiguity as well as not to break the law of our country which forbids same-sex unions, the conference guides that the matter be taken for further reflection and not implementation in Zambia.”
Going farther away from the region, the story is almost the same in Kenya where the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has albeit avoided openly declaring that what the Pope is asking for is not allowed in Kenya. But the Kenyan bishops also have briefly and subtly explained and guided on the meaning of the document and intention of Pope Francis. Avoiding a direct confrontation with the Pope the Kenyan bishops have clarified that this is a simple blessing that does not give liturgical blessings. KCCB have, however, called on Christians to pay attention to the work of Redemption that Jesus Christ is set to carry out: “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Mat. 3:8).
From the foregoing, my stand and understanding is that acting in good faith a repentant sinner seeking blessings from a priest or church will first abandon their sinful acts. But you cannot seek blessings while firmly clinging to the same sin. If, for example, you are the head of a gang that is planning to rob a bank, you cannot go to a priest for blessings while your boys are out on the bank heist mission. What is the priest blessing? To bless you even as you and your boys are out on the bank robbery? No way.
A Happy Christmas to you all and a happy New Year.
