Church leaders across Africa have reiterated their stance against blessing same-sex unions, a position reported by TASS and linked to a decision from a symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar. The guidance aims to avoid stirring scandal and confusion among faithful, affirming a cautious approach to public liturgical blessings in this area.
Prior to this stance, the Vatican had permitted unmarried same-sex couples to receive blessings, but such rites were clarified as not equating to the sanctity of marriage. In several African contexts, church authorities chose not to implement the Vatican directive, arguing that its provisions were too subtle for clear comprehension among lay congregants.
In Kinshasa, Cardinal and Archbishop Fridolin Ambongo Bezungu noted his local congregation was not prepared to accept same-sex unions. He underscored the difficulty of persuading people in their environment that same-sex individuals can form stable unions without seeking official recognition of their civil status. While bishops retain authority within their own dioceses, episcopal conferences generally opted not to offer blessings for same-sex couples, citing concerns about possible confusion or disagreement within the church community. [citation]
As context, Pope Francis in 2020 called for the legalization of same-sex unions and repeatedly emphasized that the church, like families, should remain open to everyone. Nevertheless, the African Church, alongside several other dioceses, pushed back against the pope’s order to consecrate these unions beyond liturgical contexts. This stance has been echoed by leaders in other Catholic jurisdictions who argued that sacraments and liturgical blessings must be carefully weighed against local pastoral realities. [citation]
In related discussions, leaders in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church have similarly indicated hesitation about extending blessings in scenarios that fall outside established liturgical norms, highlighting the broader tension between universal papal guidance and regional pastoral discernment. [citation]
Public reflections on these issues have touched on the balance between pastoral outreach and doctrinal clarity, with clergy stressing the importance of maintaining catechesis about the nature of marriage within the church’s teaching while remaining attentive to the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals. The debates illustrate how global statements can interact with diverse local cultures, leading to varied practical outcomes across different communities. [citation]