Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has come out to address concerns from the faithful after Pope Francis permitted Roman Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples.
KCCB Chairman Rev Martin Kivuva Musonde, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Mombasa, in a statement seen by K24 Digital admitted that the statement from the Vatican had raised serious concerns since homosexuality is still a taboo topic in Kenya.
"Dear Kenyans, Our Christians and people of Good Will; On the 18th December 2023, the Dicastery of Doctrine and Faith in Rome, released a document entitled "Fiducia Supplicans" with the approval of the Holy Father Pope Francis on a new interpretation of the "Sense of Blessings".
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"Certain aspects of this letter are causing anxiety and even confusion among the Christians, and in general the people of God. People are wondering if by this letter, the Catholic Church is endorsing and approving "Same-Sex Marriages" or changing the understanding of "Marriage, as a Sacrament of the Church, between a man and a woman," Kivuva said in a statement.
The KCCB chair explained that blessing same-sex couples did not mean blanket endorsement of homosexuality, contextualizing it in the same manner parents bless their children.
"We as the Catholic Bishops of Kenya, seek in a brief way to explain and clarify the meaning of this document and intention of the Holy Father Pope Francis. The Holy Father has constantly asked us all to have open hearts as a Church, where all, irrespective of their moral status, can feel welcome. This document, Fiducia Supplicans, expands the scope of "Church Blessings" to include "Simple blessings that are not given in a liturgical setting".
"It states that "The value of this document, however, is that it offers a specific and innovative contribution to the pastoral meaning of blessings permitting a broadening and enrichment of the classical understanding of blessings."
"We know that often, even in our own African Culture, a Father or Mother can give a blessing to their children. This also applies to Christian Parents who can give a blessing to their children without any reference to their conditions or circumstances, This is understood as an invocation to God to look upon them and their needs," the statement added.
The Archbishop elaborated that in the blessing of same-sex couples, it is not their immoral actions that are being blessed but them themselves as human beings that are being blessed.
"In blessing persons, we do not bless the immoral actions they may perform but hope that the blessing and prayers offered over them as human persons will provoke them to conversion and to return to the ways of the Lord. Therefore, the request for blessings is on a personal basis, and not in any way a blessing upon a style of life or sinful actions in their lives.
"The work of the Church is to gather the scattered, recover the lost and redirect all sinners back to the fount of salvation and of eternal life, and that is Jesus Christ our Saviour. No blessing can be understood outside the context of God's Will, and the Salvation and invitation to Communion with God. This way of grace and salvation is contained in the person of Jesus Christ. Evangelization is a journey, and each makes this journey at his or her pace, aided by the grace of God, and the intercession and ministry of the Church," he said.
Kivuva additionally stressed that the Pope's declaration does not change in any way the understanding of marriage as a sacrament in the Catholic church, an indissoluble union between a man and a woman.
The Mombasa Archbishop strongly denied that the Catholic church was trying to give a back-door recognition of homosexuality.
"This Document does not change in any way the understanding of Marriage as a Sacrament in the Church, an indissoluble union between a man and a woman, for life. It clearly states: "This Declaration remains firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage, not allowing any type of liturgical rite or blessing similar to a liturgical rite that can create confusion".
"This declaration does not in any way approve of "Same-sex Marriages" nor try to give a back-door recognition of such a union. It does not seek an alternative "union blessing" to substitute a Sacramental marriage. It states: "For this reason, since the Church has always considered only those sexual relations that are lived out within marriage to be morally licit, the Church does not have the power to confer its liturgical blessing when that would somehow offer a form of moral legitimacy to a union that presumes to be a marriage or to an extra-marital sexual practice," the statement by KCCB Chairman added.
Kivuva also explained that the Vatican document seeks to awaken the invitation of all people to God's action and grace.
"What this document seeks is to awaken the invitation of all people to God's action and grace. The Church seeks to reach out to all individuals, in order to stir them to the path of conversion and salvation.
"Consequently, the document recognizes that anyone, irrespective of their moral life or faith condition are welcome to receive blessings from the Church or a Church minister. The Church does not withhold a blessing to an individual who seeks it with an attitude of truth and faith. This blessing can be given even to non-Catholics, or non-Christians who honestly wish to receive God's blessing.
"In our African context, while recognizing the confusion existing in the more developed countries, of new unchristian models of "conjugal union" and "styles of life", we are very clear on what a family and marriage is. The social situation of Same-sex marriages does not find acceptance in our culture. We encourage especially the understanding of blessings as a gesture of humble submission to God and His ways, while recognizing our own sinfulness and need for conversion and of Salvation."
