Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 11, 2024 / 14:25 pm (CNA).
In response to new Vatican guidelines permitting nonliturgical pastoral blessings of homosexual couples, the bishops of Africa issued a united statement in which they said there will be “no blessing for homosexual couples in the African churches.”
The letter, issued Jan. 11, was written by Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
Ambongo said that the letter is a synthesis of all the African bishops’ opinions, which were sent in response to a request he issued on Dec. 20.
In the letter, Ambongo said that while the African bishops “have strongly reaffirmed their communion with Pope Francis,” they “believe that the extra-liturgical blessings proposed in the Declaration Fiducia Supplicans cannot be carried out in Africa without exposing themselves to scandals.”
Ambongo said the Vatican’s Fiducia Supplicans declaration, issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on Dec. 18, “caused a shockwave” in Africa and “has sown misconceptions and unrest in the minds of many lay faithful, consecrated persons, and even pastors.”
In response, Ambongo said that the African bishops remind the faithful, “as Fiducia Supplicans clearly does,” that “the Church’s doctrine on Christian marriage and sexuality remains unchanged.”
“For this reason, we, the African bishops, do not consider it appropriate for Africa to bless homosexual unions or same-sex couples because, in our context, this would cause confusion and would be in direct contradiction to the cultural ethos of African communities,” the African cardinal said.
The letter is the first instance of the Church in an entire continent rejecting same-sex blessings as proposed in Fiducia Supplicans.
Ambongo said that the language used in Fiducia Supplicans is “too subtle for simple people to understand” and that it is “very difficult to be convincing that people of the same sex who live in a stable union do not claim the legitimacy of their own status.”
The letter goes on to list many more reasons why the African Church will not be offering same-sex couples blessings, citing multiple biblical passages. One of the passages cited by the African bishops is what they called the “scandal of the homosexuals in Sodom” in Genesis 19, which they said demonstrates that “homosexuality is so abominable that it will lead to the destruction of the city.”
In addition to the biblical reasons, Ambongo also said that “the cultural context in Africa, deeply rooted in the values of the natural law regarding marriage and family, further complicates the acceptance of unions of persons of the same sex, as they are seen as contradictory to cultural norms and intrinsically corrupt.”
“The African Bishops’ Conferences emphasize that people with homosexual tendencies must be treated with respect and dignity, while reminding them that unions of persons of the same-sex are contrary to the will of God and therefore cannot receive the blessing of the Church,” Ambongo said.
“Therefore,” he went on, “rites and prayers that could blur the definition of marriage — as an exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, open to procreation — are considered unacceptable.”
According to Ambongo, the African bishops’ letter “received the agreement” of both Pope Francis and the Vatican’s prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez.
Ambongo called on Christian communities “not to allow themselves to be shaken” by the confusion gripping the Church following the release of Fiducia Supplicans.
He reassured the faithful that “his holiness Pope Francis, fiercely opposed to any form of cultural colonization in Africa, blesses the African people with all his heart and encourages them to remain faithful, as always, to the defense of Christian values.”
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Thank God some of our bishops have the *&$@ to speak the truth to heresy.
“The extra-liturgical blessings proposed in the Declaration Fiducia Supplicans cannot be carried out in Africa without exposing themselves to scandals.”
Yet the USA and Europe are so morally corrupt that such blasphemous “blessing” can be given without causing scandal? This pontificate is a failure to preach the Third Luminous Mystery – The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the call to conversion.”
Time for cultural colonization BY Africa.
Amen, Cleo. And evangelization, also.
May these voices from “the peripheries” will speak loud and clear at the next conclave.
Have been praying for a Pope from Africa as our next Pope.
Me, too Fr. Paul.
“Ambongo said that the language used in Fiducia Supplicans is ‘too subtle for simple people to understand” and that it is ‘very difficult to be convincing that people of the same sex who live in a stable union do not claim the legitimacy of their own status.’”
Cardinal Ambongo uses kind, diplomatic language. But the truth is Fiducia Supplicans is not “too subtle for simple people to understand,” but rather it is too stupid for anybody to take seriously.
A brilliant, crafty strategy by PF given the situation. Don’t force the issue in Africa for now, let it become commonplace in the West, and it will eventually make its way South and East. Kudos to the African bishops for standing up for Africa but it is a pity they are willing to accede to the practice in the rest of the Church. Long run, I count this as a win for PF and the progressives.
It might be a good time to say this – EVERYONE is welcome in Christ’s house, but it is HIS house, and the rules are HIS rules.
Yes. Precisely.
I voice my support for Cardinal Robert Sarah as the next Pope of Rome!
I believe that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. That said, I have good friends that have been exclusive partners for over 50 years and I do not judge them. They do not flaunt or promote their beliefs and are the kindest people. I see nothing wrong with a “blessing” that is clearly not a marriage ceremony. Neither am I the slightest bit confused over Pope Francis allowing this pastoral action. Pope Francis clearly seems to me to be acting as Christ would act. Furthermore, this desire to be sexuality with one of the same sex ( which I do not understand at all ) has been around since the dawn of mankind and is even found in various species of mammals, birds, etc.. It’s not common but it has been documented. I believe the Spirit is guiding Pope Francis and, since the world is a difficult place, we, as Christians, should be bringing the light of Christ by our kindness and welcoming attitude towards others. We give up nothing of our beliefs and practices by being accepting of others.
“Pope Francis clearly seems to me to be acting as Christ would act.”
Tell me, where and when specifically did Jesus bless homosexual individuals and couples? Where and when specifically did He reverse previous biblical teaching condemning homosexuality?
If Pope Francis seek to act as Christ, he would either say “no blessing of homosexual couples because it is contrary to what God says” or “yes to the blessing of homosexual unions = marriages because now we know that those who wrote the Scriptures were wrong”. I.e., he would be sincere either in his correct statement or in his wrong statement (homosexual unions must be blessed as a marriage, for the sake of the souls which must not live in fornication).
To be like Christ one must be bold and either stick to the divine Revelation no matter what or to decide that yes, the divine Revelation was wrong about it and it is a time to update the teaching – and to say so aloud, ex cathedra.
Of course, as soon as one does the latter, all will become terribly clear, won’t it?
“and I do not judge them.”
You should be judging their actions, which are sinful.
BXVI above – I think you may be right, unfortunately.
See “The most troubling aspect of Fiducia Supplicans”, Jeff Mirus in Catholic Culture, Jan. 9.