Pope Francis Addresses Pushback from African Bishops on Same-Sex Blessing 

– Nimi Princewill

Pope Francis has addressed criticism over his consent to priests to bless same-sex couples, saying the pushback from African bishops was “a special case” influenced by culture.

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), an association of Catholic bishops on the continent had opposed the pope’s decision to approve non-liturgical blessings for gay couples, describing such blessings as inappropriate.

But in an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa, published Monday, Francis said critics of his declaration “belong to small ideological groups” except Africans whom he said were “a separate case” because “for them, homosexuality is something ‘bad’ from a cultural point of view (and) they don’t tolerate it.”

Last month, the pope endorsed a radical shift in the church’s stance on same-sex unions by authorizing blessings for gay couples, which the Vatican’s doctrinal office cautioned must not be included in the church’s rituals and liturgical rites or imparted during a civil union.

African Catholic bishops said in a letter the pope’s endorsement “caused a shockwave” on the continent and “has sown misconceptions and unrest in the minds of many”, including pastors.

“We, the African bishops, do not consider it appropriate for Africa to bless homosexual unions or same-sex couples because, in our context, this would cause confusion and would be in direct contradiction to the cultural ethos of African communities,” added the letter issued on January 11 by SECAM President, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo.