Sat 27 January 2024:

Pope Francis has defended his authorization for homosexual partnerships to be blessed but made clear the move is not meant as a recognition of gay marriage.

His decision has caused a heated debate within the Catholic Church, with many traditionalists viewing homosexuality as a sin.

“When a couple comes spontaneously to ask for a blessing, it is not the union that is blessed, but simply the people who have asked for it together,” he said during an audience at the Vatican on Friday.

Late last year, the pontiff authorized Catholic priests to give their blessing to “couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples” under strict conditions.

Just a few weeks ago, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith felt compelled to clarify the exact regulations after widespread criticism, especially from traditionalists in Africa.

It emphasized that such blessings are in no way to be equated with a church blessing for a marriage between a man and a woman.

The body said local churches have room for manoeuvre in how the guidelines are applied.

Africans differ

“As a Christian I am very embarrassed. What the pope did, he represented himself not the whole of Christians,” Mary Lesiba of South Africa told DW. “How can he say he is a Christian when he is busy approving such things?”

Ayeah Alain Bravo from Cameroon also shares similar discontent. “[The decision] does not make sense to me,” he said. “It makes some of us start doubting religion or feeling reluctant or trying to lose my faith.”

Such strong reactions worry Francis Mpekansambo, a devout Catholic and religious analyst from the southern African nation of Malawi.

He said the pope’s authorization of blessings for same-sex couples has sparked confusion because it’s being misconstrued to mean that he is giving his approval to homosexuality.

“The church in Africa has received the news with mixed reaction and in somewhat a confused state,” Mpekansambo told DW.

Under pressure to impress?

Since 2013, the Catholic Church under Pope Francis has made an effort to make the church more welcoming to LGBTQ+ people while maintaining its stance on same-sex unions.

Yamikani Zulu, a resident of Lilongwe in Malawi, believes the pope and the Catholic Church were under pressure to offer an open-arm welcome to gay people.

“It was obvious enough that eventually all the churches would fall into the pit of homosexuality inclusiveness in the name of fighting for people’s right to just spread God’s love,” she said. “I personally think this decision was made out of pressure.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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