SECAM rejects same-sex couples’ blessings in African Churches.
In response to the Vatican declaration “Fiducia Supplicans,” which caused a shockwave, the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has made it clear that African Churches will not conduct blessings for homosexual couples.
The message, approved by Pope Francis and Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, represents the collective stance of African Bishops who believe that such blessings would create scandal and go against the cultural beliefs of African communities. SECAM, while affirming their bond with Pope Francis, asserts that the suggested extra-liturgical blessings in Fiducia Supplicans cannot be implemented in Africa without causing confusion. They emphasize that the Church’s doctrine on Christian marriage and sexuality remains unchanged.
The SECAM statement criticizes Fiducia Supplicans for its somewhat ambiguous language, particularly regarding stable unions of individuals of the same sex. The African Bishops also stress the importance of everyone’s conversion, echoing Jesus’ message of mercy and the invitation for sinners to turn away from wrongdoing. “As Fiducia Supplicans clearly states, the clergy, religious communities, all believers, and people of goodwill should recognize that the Church’s doctrine on Christian marriage and sexuality remains unaltered.
For this reason, we, the African Bishops, do not find it suitable for Africa to bless homosexual unions or same-sex couples because, in our context, this would lead to confusion and directly contradict the cultural values held by African communities,” reads a portion of the SECAM statement signed by its President, Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, on January 11th.
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