Pastor Kumuyi, Catholic Bishops React As Pope Francis Approves Same-sex Marriage

Eko Hot Blog reports that the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has voiced his disapproval of Pope Francis’s recent endorsement of blessings for same-sex couples.

In a press interview on Wednesday, Pastor Kumuyi referred to biblical teachings and highlighted Christ’s teachings on the sanctity of heterosexual marriage until death.

“The Lord Jesus Christ himself instructed us to teach all nations, baptizing them and teaching obedience to His commandments. We stand obedient and submissive to Christ’s words that firmly establish marriage as between a man and a woman,” declared Pastor Kumuyi in response to the Vatican’s document allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.

It should be noted that the recent action taken by Pope Francis, as disclosed in a newly released document from the Vatican’s doctrine office on Monday, has generated backlash on and off social media.

This criticism stems from the alteration in policy regarding the acceptance of LGBTQ by Catholics.

The document brings attention to the Pope’s affirmation that individuals who are in search of God’s love and mercy should not be subjected to moral scrutiny to receive blessings.

In a landmark ruling approved by Pope Francis on Monday, the Vatican’s doctrinal office outlined that Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as these blessings do not form part of routine Church rituals or liturgies. Additionally, these blessings should not be conducted within the framework of civil unions or weddings.

According to the document from the Vatican, the approval of such blessings is not intended to legitimise irregular situations but rather to serve as a symbolic gesture indicating that God welcomes all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.

The document backed “the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex”, but “this blessing should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union, and not even in connection with them”.

It said priests should decide on a case-by-case basis and “should not prevent or prohibit the Church’s closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God’s help through a simple blessing“.

The document expands on a letter sent by Francis to two conservative cardinals, which was published in October. In that initial response, Francis indicated that blessings for same-sex couples might be permissible under specific conditions, provided they did not blur the distinction between the ritual and the sacrament of marriage.

The newly released document reiterates this reasoning and provides further clarification. It underscores that marriage remains a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. Emphasising that blessings should not coincide with civil unions, established rituals, or incorporate attire and gestures associated with weddings.

Same-Sex Marriage Will Not Be Approved– Catholic Bishops Assures Nigerians

In a similar development, the Nigerian Catholic Bishops Conference has declared that same-sex unions will not be approved by the Catholic churches in the country.

The bishops declared that it is against national law, church doctrine, and divine law to approve of same-sex unions.

They announced this in a statement signed on Wednesday by the conference secretary, Donayus Ogun and the conference president Lucius Ugirji.

They said, “The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria assures the entire People of God that the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage remains the same. There is, therefore, no possibility in the teaching of the Church of blessing same-sex unions and activities.

“That would go against God’s law, the teachings of the Church, the laws of our nation, and the cultural sensibilities of our people.”

The pope’s approval of same-sex marriage, according to the bishops, was misunderstood.

The bishops clarified the Pope’s remarks by saying, “The declaration seeks to clarify the different forms of blessing that can be given to persons and objects in the Catholic Church, including the possibility of blessing persons in irregular unions. Such unions include but are not limited to divorced and remarried couples whose previous marriages had not been annulled, those living in same-sex unions, those in polygamous unions, in concubinage, etc.”

“The declaration acknowledges and carefully distinguishes between ritual, liturgical, and informal blessings. While ritual or liturgical blessings are imparted according to the established norms of the Church, informal blessings refer to prayers over people who ask for them outside the liturgy or any formal declaration offers a consideration of the possibility of extending the informal blessing to all Cod’s children, irrespective their moral condition, when they ask to be blessed.

“Nevertheless, the Declaration insists that the blessing of persons in irregular unions- and never the union of itself- can only take a non-liturgical form to avoid confusion. It should not be imparted during or in connection with connection with a civil wedding ceremony or with clothing, words, and signs associated with a wedding.

“The Declaration reiterates the Catholic Church’s perennial teaching on marriage as an “exclusive, stable and indissoluble union of a man and woman, naturally open to the generation of children” and emphatically states that the Church does not have the power to impart a blessing on irregular unions.

“The Declaration also reinforces the truth about God’s mercy. For one to willingly ask for a blessing demonstrates one’s trust in God and the desire to live according to God’s commandments. Asking for God’s blessing is not dependent on how good one is. Imperfection is the reason for seeking God’s grace. Therefore, those in irregular unions are invited never to lose hope but rather to ask for God’s grace and mercy while remaining open to conversion.”

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