Pope Francis has permitted Priests on Monday 18th December to Bless same-sex marriage contrary to what he had earlier said in 2021 citing the union to be a sin and God can not bless sin.
Vatican said, Blessing should not be part of regular church rituals or relayed to civil unions or wedding, and those receiving a blessing “should not be required to have prior moral perfection “, Pope added that this should be a sign that God welcomes all, though the document says Priests must decide on a case by case basis.
A blessing in the Catholic Church is a prayer or plea delivered by a minister, asking God to look favorably on a person, people or region. Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Church, said the new declaration remained “firm on the trading doctrine of the church about marriage”. And the new guidance doesn’t validate the status of same-sex couples in the Catholic Church.
Bishops and Priests in several countries previously blessed same-sex marriage. However this is not the case for most African States as many governments have declined to adopt the practice calling it immoral acts and doesn’t align with the African beliefs and culture.
Early 2023, Uganda was sanctioned by some international organisations after its Parliament passed the anti-homosexuality bill into Law, arguing that the said law violates human rights. NUP President Kyagulanye Ssentamu recently was tasked on BBC to explain his stand on the same.
It is clear that most African States are adamant to accept same-sex marriage not only because Christianity deems it a sin but it goes against the customs, norms and culture of many of them.
