In response to the recent declaration by Pope Francis, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has clarified that the statement does not endorse same-sex marriage but rather emphasizes the church’s commitment to providing blessings to all individuals, regardless of their status.
The CBCN explained that the Pope’s pronouncement does not alter the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage and its stance against same-sex unions. The statement comes as a response to the Fiducia Supplicans issued by the Vatican, which has generated confusion among Catholic faithful.
According to a statement signed by the President of CBCN, Bishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, and the Secretary, Bishop Donatus Ogun, the Pope’s declaration aims to clarify various forms of blessings within the Catholic Church, including the possibility of blessing individuals in irregular unions.
The bishops clarified that these blessings could extend to divorced and remarried couples, those in same-sex unions, individuals in polygamous relationships, and those in concubinage, among others. However, the statement emphasized that such blessings, if given, would only take a non-liturgical form to prevent confusion.
The CBCN highlighted the distinction between ritual or liturgical blessings, which follow established church norms, and informal blessings, which are prayers offered outside formal church celebrations. The declaration contemplates the informal blessing of all individuals, regardless of their moral condition, when they seek such blessings.
The bishops emphasized that the declaration reinforces the Catholic Church’s enduring teaching on marriage as an “exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union of a man and woman, naturally open to the generation of children.”
Despite the clarification, the CBCN reiterated that the Church does not possess the authority to impart blessings on irregular unions. The statement further emphasized the Pope’s declaration as a reinforcement of the truth about God’s mercy, encouraging those in irregular unions to seek God’s grace and mercy while remaining open to conversion.
In conclusion, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria affirmed that the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage remains unchanged. It clarified that there is no possibility within the Church of blessing same-sex unions and activities, as such actions would contradict God’s law, the teachings of the Church, the laws of the nation, and the cultural sensibilities of the people.