POPE Francis has expressed optimism that those who reject his decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples will eventually grasp it, with the exception of Africans, whom he described as a “special case.”
According to Reuters, Pope Francis indicated in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa published today that Africans have a terrible cultural perception of homosexuality.
“Those who protest vehemently belong to small ideological groups. A special case are Africans: for them homosexuality is something bad from a cultural point of view, they don’t tolerate it.
“But in general, I trust that gradually everyone will be reassured by the spirit of the ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: it aims to include, not divide,” he said.
Last month, a Vatican document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which permitted blessings for same-sex couples, provoked great controversy in the Catholic Church and around the world.
However, the Vatican emphasized that blessings should not be incorporated in ordinary church services or associated with civil partnerships or weddings.
It stressed that it still sees marriage as between a man and a woman.
According to Reuters, Francis appeared to acknowledge the document’s opposition, notably in Africa, where same-sex conduct can result in harsh penalties, including as jail or even capital penalty.
He stated that when administering blessings, priests should “naturally take into account the context, sensitivities, places where one lives, and the most appropriate ways to do it.”
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has stated that Catholic churches in the country will not perform blessings for same-sex unions.
“That would go against God’s law, the teachings of the Church, the laws of our nation, and the cultural sensibilities of our people,” they said in a statement.
According to the bishops, there was a misinterpretation of Pope Francis’s decision to allow the blessing of same-sex marriage.
“The Declaration 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.”
