The recent Vatican statement endorsing that priests bless homosexual couples has caused enormous discomfort in the most conservative sectors of the Church. This division has materialized with the formal opposition of the African Church, the continent where the faithful grow the most on the planet, to apply the directive. They justify it by saying that it goes against “the will of God,” but they promise that they will continue to be faithful to Pope Francis.
In a public letter signed by Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, archbishop of Kinshasa, as president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), the African bishops assure that blessings to homosexual couples cannot be carried out in Africa "without expose oneself to scandal.” The cardinal believes that, since the Church's doctrine on marriage has not changed – it remains exclusive to heterosexual couples – blessing gay unions is not “appropriate” for Africa because, in its “context”, “it would cause confusion and would be in conflict.” direct contradiction with the cultural ethics of African communities.”
In fact, Ambongo cites “biblical reasons” condemning homosexuality and argues that it further complicates the acceptance of homosexual unions in Africa as “they are considered contradictory to cultural norms and intrinsically evil.”
The rejection of the African bishops is a historical precedent because never before have all the bishops of the same continent opposed a Vatican directive. Both Jorge Mario Bergoglio and his prefect for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, author of the declaration, have authorized the refusal of the African episcopal conferences, says the archbishop of Kinshasa.
“His Holiness Pope Francis, firmly opposed to any form of cultural colonization in Africa, wholeheartedly blesses the African people,” he writes. With this approval, Francis opens the door to a Church that moves at different speeds. The prefect of the old Holy Office already recognized in a clarifying note that it would not be possible to apply it at the same time in all places in the world.
Francisco has not yet commented publicly on the matter. The health of the Pontiff, 87, is once again in the spotlight after yesterday he preferred not to read a prepared speech to a group of French communicators explaining that he had "a little bronchitis." In the two subsequent hearings he did deliver the planned speeches, although with a visibly tired voice.
