The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has said the recent pronouncement by Pope Francis has nothing to do with same-sex marriage but an assertion of the church’s disposition to offering blessings to all God’s children, irrespective of their status.
It said the pronouncement of the Pope does not in any way change the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage and non-recognition of same sex marriage.
While reacting to the Fiducia Supplicans issued by the Vatican which has created confusion among Christians, especially the Catholic faithful, the Bishops said the declaration by the Pope only seeks to clarify the different forms of blessing that could be given to persons and objects in the Catholic Church, including the possibility of blessing persons in irregular unions.
They explained that such blessings to unions include but are not limited to divorced and remarried couples whose previous marriages had not been annulled, those living in same-sex unions, those in polygamous unions, in concubinage, among others.
The clarification was contained in a statement signed by the President of CBCN, Bishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji and the Secretary, Bishop Donatus Ogun.
The CBCN said: “The Declaration acknowledges and carefully distinguishes between ritual, liturgical, and informal blessings.
“While ritual or liturgical blessings are imparted according to the established norms of the Church, informal blessings refer to prayers over people who ask for them outside the liturgy or any formal celebration in the Church.
“The Declaration offers a consideration of the possibility of extending the informal blessing to all God’s children, irrespective of their moral condition, when they ask to be blessed.
“Nevertheless, the Declaration insists that the blessing of persons in irregular unions – and never the union itself – can only take a non-liturgical form to avoid confusion.
“It should not be imparted during or in connection with a civil wedding ceremony or with clothing, words, and signs associated with a wedding”, the statement said.
The Bishops said rather than deviate from the church’s tradition, the declaration re-enforces the Catholic Church’s long-standing teaching on marriage as an “exclusive, stable and indissoluble union of a man and woman, naturally open to the generation of children.”
The Bishops stated that the Church does not have the power to impart a blessing on irregular unions.
The statement further said the Pope’s Declaration also reinforces the truth about God’s mercy.
“For one to willingly ask for a blessing demonstrates one’s trust in God and the desire to live according to God’s commandments.
“Asking for God’s blessing is not dependent on how good one is. Imperfection is the reason for seeking God’s grace. Therefore, those in irregular unions are invited never to lose hope but rather to ask for God’s grace and mercy while remaining open to conversion.
“In conclusion, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria assures the entire People of God that the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage remains the same.
“There is, therefore, no possibility in the Church of blessing same-sex unions and activities. That would go against God’s law, the teachings of the Church, the laws of our nation and the cultural sensibilities of our people.”
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
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