I’ve seen several lists of bishops’ conferences in Africa and elsewhere that have addressed Fiducia Supplicans and have forbidden their priests to give same-sex blessings, but I have yet to see Togo included on any of those lists.
Togo, where I currently serve as a missionary, is small compared to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon and Kenya, but it does have seven dioceses, and every episcopal conference that has taken this stance deserves to have that known.
I provide here a translation from the French of the Togolese bishops’ statement, but first I offer three brief observations.
First, a minor point. Paragraph 3 of the statement might seem a bit confusing in saying that homosexuality refers to homosexual acts. Still, it’s clear what the bishops mean, and they do include all of the Catechism’s very strong language condemning homosexual acts, as well as its clear call for compassionate pastoral care of those who commit such acts.
Second, I find it noteworthy that in paragraph #5 the bishops quote a previous statement of Pope Francis himself as their essential reason for not permitting any same-sex blessings, even though Francis, by approving FS, permits some.
Third, to be sure that I translated the bishops’ final sentence correctly, about what priests in Togo should and should not do, I checked with my Togolese assistant pastor, who assured me that “The bishops are giving an order.” That is, when they use the French word “recommandent” they are not simply expressing a preference between two legitimate options. They are forbidding their priests from giving same-sex blessings, and he said that every priest in Togo understands that. (Not that there is likely to be a single Togolese priest who would want to do it in the first place!)
Let’s pray that all the African bishops come up with a fine, united continental response.
Fr. William Ryan
————–
CLARIFICATION OF THE CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS OF TOGO
FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF THE
DECLARATION FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS
ON THE PASTORAL MEANING OF BLESSINGS
The Bishops of Togo have followed closely the questions, concerns and controversy caused by the publication of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Declaration Fiducia Supplicans on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings, and we issue this clarification as well as the following reminders:
1. The Declaration is far from an approval or a sacramental validation of the union of persons of the same sex. Nor does it call into question the Church’s teaching on marriage. In fact, among the numerous questions submitted to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith was this one: Can or cannot God’s ministers give blessings to everyone, whatever their condition? The reply to this fundamental question inspired the title that was given to the document “Declaration on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings.” Of course, the Church has always given ordinary non-liturgical blessings to whoever asks for them. Nevertheless, one must be sure that these blessings are not interpreted as “a liturgical or semi-liturgical act, resembling a sacrament” (Fiducia Supplicans, No. 36).
2. This declaration does not modify the teaching of the Bible and the Church on marriage, which is defined by the Second Vatican Council and recognized as a “matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman unite to form a lifelong community ordered by its natural character to the good of the spouses and to the procreation and education of children” (GS 48; CCC 1601; CIC, can. 1055, 1).
3. According to the Bible and the teaching of the Church, homosexuality, which refers to relations between two men or two women who experience sexual attraction exclusively or predominantly towards persons of the same sex, is presented as a grave depravation, intrinsically disordered (Gen 19:1-29; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6,10; 1 Tim 1:10; CDF Declaration Persona Humana, 8). Because it is contrary to the natural law and closes the sexual act to the gift of life, under no circumstances can it be approved. (CCC 2357).
4. Nevertheless, the Church calls for persons engaging in same-sex relations to be treated with respect, compassion and delicacy. Such persons are called to carry out God’s will in their life and, if they are Christians, to unite with the Lord’s cross the difficulties that they encounter due to their condition (CCC 2358)
5. In his reply to the Dubia of Two Cardinals on July 11, 2023, Pope Francis writes: “Rites and prayers are inadmissible which could cause confusion between that which constitutes marriage, namely ‘an exclusive, stable and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the procreation of children’ and that which contradicts it.” For this reason, as regards the blessing of homosexual couples, the bishops of Togo direct priests to refrain from doing this.
The bishops wish a joyful Christmas and a happy New Year to all.
May Christ who is the blessing of the Father bestow on each one the grace needed for the good of all.
Lomé, December 20, 2023
His Excellency Benoit Alowonou
Bishop of Kpalimé
President of the Togolese Episcopal Conference
His Excellency Jacques Danka Longa
Bishop of Kara
Vice-President of the Togolese Episcopal Conference
His Excellency Isaac Jogues Gaglo
Bishop of Aneho
His Excellency Nicodeme Barrigah-Benissan
Archbishop of Lomé
His Excellency Celestin-Marie Gaoua
Bishop of Sokode
His Excellency Dominique Guigile
Bishop of Dapaong
His Excellency Moise Touho
Bishop of Atakpame
His Excellency Jacques N.T. Anyilunda
Bishop Emeritus of Dapaong
His Excellency Denis Amuzu-Dzakpah
Archbishop Emeritus of Lomé
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Merci.
I note that #2 and #3 make reference to the Bible.
Bravo.
A point of contact with our (orthodox) Protestant brethren.
I could not locate Togo on a map, but I am delighted that its Catholic bishops are impressively protective of the deposit of the faith.
“Nevertheless, the Church calls for persons engaging in same-sex relations to be treated with respect, compassion and delicacy.”
The church calls for persons who have developed a disordered same sex sexual inclination to be treated with respect, and compassion, while making it clear that such persons refrain from acting on their disordered sexual inclinations, for such acts can never be approved.
Furthermore,The Church teaches:
“2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.”
Thus to Bless any couple who identifies as a couple based upon a disordered sexual relationship, would in essence be not a Blessing, but a curse, as it would be an obstacle to their repentance and acceptance of Salvational Love, God’s Gift Of Grace And Mercy, available to all who desire to repent, serve their Penance , and believe The Good News , Our Lord And Savior, Jesus Christ Is Risen!
The next pontificate will have to clear up the “mess” that they will inherit caused by our dear Pope Francis. He did exactly what he said he was going to do by stirring things up. Perhaps he has done a favor to us by forcing us solidify our beliefs before we face the coming tsunami on the Church from the increasingly secular culture. Scripture tells us that all things work together for our good and this includes the present state of the Church. Perhaps we try too hard to do things ourselves when we would be better to let go and let God….
Excellent year-end podcast on The Catholic Thing on Dec. 29 with Robert Royal, Fr. Gerald Murray, Ed Pentin and Diane Montagna.
Thank you Father for your services to ou country Togo as a Peace corps volunteer and now as Missionary. God bless you and your brother Fr. Peter and your ministries.