THE Vatican has clarified the Catholic Church’s recent approval of blessings for same-sex couples, denying it had strayed from doctrine, while at the same time urging “prudence” in certain countries.
The clarification by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith followed outcry by certain bishops, particularly in Africa, over its recent declaration okaying priests to bless “irregular” and same-sex couples under certain circumstances.
That document, published in December last year, was interpreted by many conservative Catholics, particularly in Africa, as back-tracking on the issues of gay marriage and homosexuality, which the church opposes.
But the Vatican, on Thursday, January 4, while insisting on its recent document, said it was “clear and definitive about marriage and sexuality.
“There is no room to distance ourselves doctrinally from this Declaration or to consider it heretical, contrary to the Tradition of the Church or blasphemous.”
The original declaration cautioned that priests could only perform blessings for same-sex couples, divorcées or unmarried couples in “non-ritualised” contexts and never in relation to weddings or civil unions.
There have been growing opposition to the stance of the Vatican, particularly in Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Since his election in 2013, 87-year-old Pope Francis has insisted on opening the doors of the church to all its faithful, including the homosexual and LGBTQ communities.
But this has met with strong resistance among its traditional and conservative membership and leadership, particularly in African, where such practices are regarded as against the faith.
