Catholic priests cannot bless same-sex marriages or union, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, has reinforced.
Earlier, in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM last Tuesday, Rev Gyamfi clarified that Pope Francis did not direct or approve Catholic priests to bless marriages of gays and lesbians.
The latest statement by the man of God follows reports of Pope Francis formally permitting Roman Catholic priests to bless same-sex unions which has sparked varying opinions on social media.
But in a statement released yesterday (December 21st,) Rev Gyamfi underscored that the document from the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Fiducia Supplicans,” does not authorise Catholic priests to bless same-sex marriages.
According to him, the document’s focus lies on the pastoral care of individuals in same-sex relationships, offering them spiritual support and guidance.
He added that the declaration noted that there were several occasions when people spontaneously asked for a blessing (prayer), whether on pilgrimages, at shrines or even on the street when they meet a priest.
“The Declaration makes a distinction between liturgical (sacramental) blessings and pastoral blessings which may be given to persons who desire God’s loving graces in their lives. The Declaration says that these pastoral blessings “are meant for everyone; no one is to be excluded from them” (par. 28).”
It also notes that in “a brief prayer preceding this spontaneous blessing, the ordained minister could ask that the
individuals have peace, health, a spirit of patience, dialogue, and mutual assistance—but also God’s light and strength to be able to fulfil his will completely (par. 38),” he added.
Furthermore, Rev Gyamfi said the statement also stated that no one should be excluded from these blessings.
“The Declaration deals with the possibility of “blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage.”
