In Nigeria and elsewhere, Catholic bishops reject Pope’s position on same-sex marriage

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has opposed the recent approval by the Vatican for clerics to bless same-sex marriages, saying such actions are “against God’s law.”

The response comes after Pope Francis’ directive allowing Catholic priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples, a move that has sparked controversy within the Church globally.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Nigerian bishops insisted that the teachings of the Catholic Church on marriage remain unaltered.

“The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria assures the entire People of God that the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage remains the same,” it said. “There is, therefore, no possibility in the Church of blessing same-sex unions and activities.”

Other countries too

The Pope’s latest move marks a departure from a 2021 statement and emphasizes that such blessings, while not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies, serve as a sign that God welcomes all, without legitimizing irregular situations.

While the Catholic Church maintains that same-sex attraction is not sinful, it considers homosexual acts as such. Pope Francis, since his election, has sought to make the Church more inclusive to the LGBT community without altering moral doctrine.

Catholic clerics in many countries, especially in Africa, home to nearly a quarter of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics, have openly rejected the Pope’s position.

Zambia’s bishops conference said same-sex couple blessings were “not for implementation in Zambia.” The bishops conference of Malawi said “blessings of any kind” for “same-sex unions of any kind” would not be permitted, according to the Associated Press.

Abbé Jean-Marie Djibo, a priest in the Archdiocese of Bamako, Mali, said the Catholic church in his country would not be following any new policy.

Catholic bishops in Ghana said in a statement the Pope’s position did not authorize them to bless same-sex marriages.

In Poland, the Bishops’ Conference said people who are in same-sex relationships “cannot receive a blessing”.

“Since practicing sexual acts outside marriage, that is, outside the indissoluble union of a man and a woman open to the transmission of life, is always an offense against the will and wisdom of God expressed in the sixth commandment … people who are in such a relationship cannot receive a blessing. This applies in particular to people in same-sex relationships,” wrote Fr. Leszek Gęsiak, spokesman for the Polish Episcopal Conference.

In the United Kingdom, an organization representing some 500 Catholic priests in Britain, issued a letter reaffirming the Church’s teaching regarding marriage and same-sex unions after “widespread confusion.”

The U.S. bishops conference said the church’s teachings on marriage have not changed. But it said the announcement “articulated a distinction between liturgical (sacramental) blessings, and pastoral blessings, which may be given to persons who desire God’s loving grace in their lives.”