Catholic Archbishop of Koforidua, Most Reverend Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum, says the church does not intend to bless the unions of same-sex couples nor people in irregular relationships.
He was speaking in reaction to a recent publication from the Vatican that stated that Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.
“One 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 from the Vatican’s doctrine office says.
It offers an extensive definition of the term “blessing” in Scripture to insist that people seeking a transcendent relationship with God and looking for his love and mercy should not be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” as a precondition for receiving it.
However, the shift in policy does not change the church’s position on marriage, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman.
However, the publication has been met with uproar and much confusion, with several Catholic chapters across the world condemning it.
Explaining the church’s position, Most Rev. Afrifah-Agyekum noted that the church still frowns on same-sex marriages; however, it does not despise homosexuals.
He said homosexuals, people in same-sex marriages, and heterosexual couples in irregular relationships may receive the church’s blessings as long as such blessings are not offered under circumstances that may be confused with the sacrament of marriage.
He noted that any attempt to bless same-sex unions or irregular relationships will be viewed as illicit and inadmissible.
“The church has never despised homosexual people or people living with same-sex people. We have always preached that we should show them love and bring our pastoral closeness to such people and help them. And that is what the church teaches us.
“And the Pope has made it one of the other points earlier that we should feel close to these people and engage them pastorally so that we can bring them to change. And it does not also mean that we are affirming their relationship or their union, no, but it’s just that we try.
“Just like Jesus, you know, handled prostitutes and people who were pagans and so forth, he went to the so-called sinners. We have to be with them. And the Holy Father has said that we should also smell like the sheep, and smelling like the sheep does not also mean that you’re blessing or you’re accepting the sin. The sin aspect definitely is something that we have to work hard,” he explained.
He further stated that as far as the church is concerned, the sacrament of marriage can only be enjoyed by a man and a woman, and that is not going to change in the Catholic Church.
“Detractors or people who are in a subtle way hoping that this thing will change, I think the church that I am in and I’m a member I don’t think is going to change its doctrine and its practice as far as this issue is concerned,” he said.
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