PH
In an interview released Monday, Pope Francis stated that the case of the Church in Africa was “special,” in terms of the extra-liturgical blessings suggested for same-s*x couples.
He told the Italian newspaper La Stampa that “homosexuality was something ‘ugly’ from a cultural point of view” among Africans.
He was asked about the opposition that a paper he supports has generated.
The Fiducia supplicans Declaration, published on December 18, allows for the blessing of spouses whose status is considered “irregular” by the Catholic Church. These include unmarried couples, divorced and remarried couples, and same-s*x couples.
“The Gospel is to sanctify everyone […]” “we are all sinners: why should we make a list of sinners who can enter the Church and a list of sinners who cannot be in the Church?,” he said.
The benediction refers to “blessing the people, not their union.”
Regarding objections of the document, the Pope stated that “those who vehemently protest belong to small ideological groups.”
With the Pope’s assent, the president of the African bishops announced on January 11th that blessings for same-s*x couples will not be performed on the continent, where homosexuality is illegal in many nations.
The Bishops of Northern Africa stated that they will bless persons in unusual situations as long as the blessing does not cause confusion for the recipients or others.
