The prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith's comments came after a meeting on May 22 with Coptic Pope Tawadros II.

In an interview with María Martínez López, a bioethics expert and editor of the Spanish Editor of 'Alfa & Omega', Fernadez said the meeting aimed to address concerns stemming from the declaration of Fiducia supplicans.

The Vatican's stance on same-sex unions has been a point of contention. It led to the suspension of dialogue by the Coptic Synod in March.

Although the issue was addressed at the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church in January, some US communities requested further clarification.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, proposed a personal meeting with Tawadros II. This was facilitated by Fernández with the approval of Pope Francis.

During the meeting, Fernández clarified that the Holy See does not endorse same-sex marriage. He noted that no Vatican document supports homosexual marriage.

Fernández stressed the importance of ecumenical dialogue which recognises and respects diverse pastoral practices and theological views. He reiterated that differences in pastoral praxis do not affect the shared Trinitarian and Christological faith as outlined in Unitatis Redintegratio.

Different theological languages

The personal meeting was deemed necessary to overcome the difficulties of different theological languages. Fernández described the atmosphere as cordial, with Tawadros II showing a sincere effort to understand the Vatican's position.

Regarding blessings for same-sex unions, Fernández clarified that the Church does not bless unions but may offer brief, individual prayers for persons in irregular unions. These blessings are not meant to ratify or approve any union, a point also emphasised by Pope Francis.

Fernández acknowledged that confusion and misunderstandings have arisen, due partly to misinterpretations by some Catholic media. He stressed that improper blessings are not widespread and that bishops generally adhere to Vatican guidelines.

The cardinal also pointed out that the Church faces more significant issues than this controversy and called for focusing on these crucial matters.

Fernández underscored that the Vatican's role is not to conduct a "witch hunt" but to provide clear guidance and support. The cardinal also stressed the need for charity and understanding in addressing these issues within the Church.

Sources

Catholic Culture

Alpha & Omega

CathNews New Zealand

However, the meeting highlighted a rare agreement between the Catholic and Coptic Orthodox Churches on their stance against homosexual relationships.

During their meeting, Pope Tawadros II expressed his concerns directly, urging clarity and consistency in upholding traditional Christian values.

Cardinal Fernández responded by acknowledging the importance of these values. He also mentioned the need for ongoing dialogue to address and bridge any misunderstandings or disagreements that arise.

This encounter follows the Vatican's controversial clarification outlined in "Fiducia Supplicans", allowing for a non-liturgical same-sex blessing for couples. Some have interpreted this as a shift in the Church's position on homosexuality.

In response to the publication, the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church suspended theological dialogue with the Catholic Church. The Synod also adopted a fundamental statement in which it reaffirmed its rejection of homosexual acts.

This suspension underscored the seriousness with which the Coptic Church regards the matter. It views any form of blessing for same-sex unions as contradictory to Christian doctrine.

Cardinal Fernández, head of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, reassured Pope Tawadros that these blessings are not equivalent to the sacrament of marriage.

The declaration "Dignitas Infinita" also makes it abundantly clear that the Catholic Church completely rejects same-sex marriages.

Path of Love

Fernández emphasised the Catholic Church's adherence to traditional teachings on marriage as a union exclusively between a man and a woman. This position aligns with the beliefs of the Coptic Orthodox Church which has a similar doctrinal stance on homosexuality and marriage.

According to a news release issued by the Coptic Church, Tawadros told Fernández there is a path of love between the two churches. He also stressed the importance of dialogue.

Tawadros called for evaluating the results achieved by the Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Dialogue Commission over its 20 years of existence. He also expressed the need for more effective methods and mechanisms for the Commission's work.

Pope Francis met with Tawadros in May 2023 to mark the 50-year anniversary of restored relations between the Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church. However since March, formal ecumenical dialogue remains suspended.

Sources

Katholisch

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

Filmed and then posted on social media, the way he carried out the same-sex blessing was a "very poor decision" Father Joseph Williams says.

In the apology - issued by the Vincentians' Western Province - Williams says he is "deeply sorry for any confusion and/or anger that this has caused, particularly for the People of God.

"The shape that the blessing took as portrayed in the video came about due to my attempt to provide for them a meaningful moment of God's grace.

"I wanted to do it well. A week or so after the fact, I viewed the video. I immediately realised that I had made a very poor decision in the words and visuals captured on the video."

Williams says he told the couple when they approached him that he could provide only a blessing, not a wedding.

However he "regrets the language of the blessing and the use of vestments and the church itself, which he now recognises were a violation of the norms approved by the Church".

The blessing

In April, Williams blessed a same-sex union before the altar at St Vincent de Paul Church where he is the pastor.

One of the newly-blessed partners then posted a brief video and photographs of the blessing on her Instagram account.

She described the same-sex blessing as "a blessing of our marriage".

The video pictured the couple dressed in formal attire, standing with Williams in the sanctuary.

Williams asks "Do you freely recommit yourselves to love each other as holy spouses and to live in peace and harmony together forever?"

"We do, I do," they reply.

Williams then asks God to "increase and consecrate the love".

He continues, saying "the rings they have exchanged are the sign of their fidelity and commitment. May they continue to prosper in your grace and blessing. We ask this through Christ our Lord".

New Church guidelines

Last December's Vatican declaration "Fiducia Supplicans" ("Supplicating Trust") allows pastoral, non-liturgical blessings of couples in irregular unions.

They can be same-sex couples and unmarried heterosexual couples.

However such blessings "precisely to avoid any form of confusion or scandal ... should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union and not even in connection with them" Fiducia says.

"Nor can it be performed with any clothing, gestures or words that are proper to a wedding."

Source

• NCR
• CNA

In his address at the Episcopal Conference of Cameroon on April 9, Cardinal Sarah (pictured) emphasised the pivotal role of the African Church in preserving the Word of God.

He contrasted it with what he sees as Western Christians being swayed by misleading notions of enlightenment and modernity.

Cardinal Sarah said "At the next session of the Synod, it is vital that the African Bishops speak in the name of the unity of faith. And not in the name of particular cultures."

Fragmented truth

Cardinal Sarah applauded the commitment of African Church representatives to traditional teachings.

This was despite facing disregard and ridicule from those he accused of catering to Western interests.

"Your voice has been ignored and mocked by those whose only aim is to please Western lobbies" he said.

He urged African Catholics to continue opposing what he termed a "fragmented truth" and a "dictatorship of relativism" during the synod.

Cardinal Sarah lauded Catholic Bishops in Cameroon for their collective stance against Fiducia Supplicans.

The controversial declaration permitted the blessing of same-sex couples. He said this was the latest example of a push for "the culture of relativism" rather than the "universality of faith".

Fiducia Supplicans buried

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, a member of the Council of Cardinals, voiced agreement with Cardinal Sarah.

"I followed with much attention Cardinal Sarah's address and I think what he said is true.

"Fiducia Supplicans wasn't primarily about cultural aspects; rather, it was best approached through the perspectives of theology, morality, the Bible and the Magisterium" Cardinal Ambongo said.

"The Church in Africa is united in communion, there is no division. I think that all over the world, people agree and are in one accord with the Church in Africa" Ambongo said, adding "This is the reason why we shall no longer talk about Fiducia Supplicans; it has been buried".

Sources

Katholische

ACI Africa

CathNews New Zealand

Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea also repeated his criticism of Fiducia Supplicans, the recent Vatican document authorising blessings of couples involved in same-sex unions, insisting that it's not just traditional African culture but Catholic teaching itself which makes the document unacceptable.

Speaking to the episcopal conference of Cameroon, Cardinal Sarah, the Vatican's former top official for liturgy, criticised Western bishops for their reluctance to oppose secular worldly values, accusing them of a failure of nerve.

Read More

Martin's workspace is filled with objects that evoke his personal journey as a Jesuit priest who has worked with gang members in Boston as well as refugees in Kenya.

Next to his computer, there's a photo of him conversing with Pope Francis during a meeting in 2019 at the Vatican. This was the first of four one-on-one encounters the two Jesuits have now had.

"It was one of the highlights of my life," Martin recalls.

"I am not a cardinal, archbishop, bishop, or even a university president. Why would a pope want to meet me?"

Only one of many voices

He knows the answer. At 63 years old, the American Jesuit is one of the leading advocates for including LGBT people within the Catholic Church.

He has both the trust and ear of Francis.

In 2017, the pope appointed him as a consultant to the Dicastery for Communication. And last year, he asked him to participate in the Synod assembly on the future of the Church.

Ever since the publication of Fiducia supplicans, the controversial declaration the Vatican's doctrinal office issued last December that allows priests the possibility of blessing same-sex couples, Martin proudly states he has done so four times.

"I am just one of many voices speaking to the pope on this issue," he says, downplaying his role in this development.

"What does this community need to do to be recognised by the Church?"

The LGBT cause has not always been central for Martin.

Before being ordained a priest, this child of a French teacher and a businessman pursued a career in accounting and human resources at the American conglomerate General Electric.

"I was a yuppie," he says. "I made a good living, lived in New York, went to nightclubs, and spent a lot of money."

But he grew weary of that lifestyle after a few years.

He saw a documentary about the Trappist monk Thomas Merton, but he didn't even know what a monastery was.

In the end, he decided to become a Jesuit.

He first began writing about LGBT Catholics in the 1990s in the pages of America because "the issue was little addressed at the time".

He faced his first controversy in 2000 when he wrote an article about gay priests. But it wasn't until sixteen years later that he decided to make recognition of LGBT people the focus of his ministry.

The turning point was the death of 49 people on June 12, 2016 at "Pulse", a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

"Very few bishops spoke out after this shooting, the deadliest in the country's history. And even fewer used the word 'gay'," Martin says.

"I thought to myself - ‘what does this community need to do to be recognised by the Church?' Is dying not enough?"

After the nightclub shooting, he began participating in conferences, appearing in major news media, and writing books like Building a Bridge (HarperOne, 2018).

His aim was to urge the Catholic Church to "listen" to its LGBT members rather than "treat them as sinners who need to be scrutinised for life".

He even became the subject of a 2021 documentary produced by the famous director Martin Scorsese.

And since 2022, he has been running "Outreach", a website affiliated with America that is dedicated to LGBT Catholics.

"I'm not one to seek controversy"

His notoriety has earned him enemies, including many bishops, who accuse him of wanting to distort Catholic teaching.

"Jesus welcomed the marginalized, that's what I do," he says in defense of his work.

"I'm not one to seek controversy. I would prefer to write about saints and prayer, but I've gotten used to being hated."

While he sees Fiducia supplicans as a "huge" advancement, he does not believe it marks a step towards recognising homosexual unions.

"LGBT Catholics have accepted that this point will not change. All they want is to be treated as human beings," he says.

"By excluding these people, we are also closing the doors of our churches to their parents, siblings, and friends. In the past, they would have sought their place within the Church. Now, they prefer to leave."

• First published in La Croix International
• James J. Martin SJ is an American Jesuit Catholic priest, writer, and editor-at-large of the Jesuit magazine America and the founder of Outreach.

The Patriarchate of Alexandria and Coptic officials have labelled same-sex blessings as heresy.

The Holy Synod of the ancient Coptic Orthodox Church, based in Egypt, announced the suspension on March 7.

"After consulting with the sister churches of the Eastern Orthodox family" they wrote, "it was decided to suspend the theological dialogue with the Catholic Church, reevaluate the results achieved by the dialogue from its beginning 20 years ago, and establish new standards and mechanisms for the dialogue to proceed in the future."

The Vatican's publication of "Fiducia supplicans" was the catalyst for this decision. The document addressed blessings for couples in "irregular situations" including same-sex relationships.

"We cannot recognise that two people of the same sex form a couple" an aide to Pope Tawadros II (pictured with Pope Francis) told La Croix.

"The text is unacceptable, as is the explanation later provided by the Vatican. Pope Francis wanted to please Europeans but, for us, it is a huge heresy" the aide pointed out.

"The Bible in both Testaments condemns, warns against, and prohibits sexual practices between two people of the same sex" asserted the Orthodox Coptic bishops.

Severe setback

The suspension of dialogue is considered a severe setback in relations between Rome and Alexandria. It follows a historic public audience between Pope Tawadros II and Pope Francis less than a year ago.

"Pope Tawadros II greatly appreciates Pope Francis" said Rafic Greiche, a former spokesman for the Coptic Catholic Church in Egypt. "So far, he has managed to appease bishops opposed to any reconciliation with Catholics. It will now be much more difficult in the face of a Synod that will oppose any further progress" the priest said.

While ecumenical prayer initiatives remain unaffected, the halt in dialogue could have broader implications. Many within the Coptic hierarchy have long opposed unity with the Catholic Church. Fiducia supplicans has reignited the deep-seated conflicts.

The Coptic Orthodox Church has made strides towards unity with Rome. However, these recent developments mark a significant setback in the relationship between the two churches.

Sources

Le Croix International

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

This letter, and the broader debate it represents, is emblematic of a Church at a crossroads.

It's a Church grappling with the need to maintain unity and doctrinal integrity while also engaging with the diverse realities of the global Catholic community.

The contention centres on the proposal by the German Church to establish a Synodal Council that would effectively share decision-making power between the bishops and the laity.

This proposal challenges the traditional hierarchy, where decision-making power has been predominantly vested in the ordained clergy, particularly the bishops.

Vatican response

The Vatican's response, citing Canon Law to argue against the proposed power-sharing arrangement, underscores a fundamental ecclesiological tension.

This is how the Church interprets and applies its laws in the face of evolving demands for inclusivity and participation from its members.

The resistance from Rome can be seen as a protective measure for the traditional culture of power through ordination.

With its rich tapestry of implicit and explicit theologies, Catholicism relies on semiotic codes like liturgy, hierarchy, and management to facilitate a global yet locally nuanced faith experience.

These codes, especially the symbolic code of ordained power, are crucial in maintaining the Church's unity and doctrinal consistency across diverse cultural contexts.

Contemporary concerns

The debate over the German proposal is not merely about ecclesiastical governance but touches on deeper questions of identity, authority, and the nature of the Church itself.

It highlights the challenge of balancing Catholicism's universal and local dimensions, a tension that is not new but has taken on new urgency in the contemporary context.

The letter to the German bishops and the discussions it has generated reflect broader themes within the Church, such as the struggle to articulate a vision of catholic unity that respects and incorporates diversity.

This struggle is not limited to the relationship between the clergy and laity but extends to theological and pastoral practices, liturgical rites, and ecclesial management.

Therefore, the German push for a synodal model of the church can be seen as part of a wider intra-church dialogue about adapting and evolving in a rapidly changing world while remaining faithful to the core tenets of the faith.

...vs African bishops

There is opposition from certain quarters of the Church, notably some African bishops, in response to the document on same-sex and irregular blessings, Fiducia Supplicans.

The document underscores the diverse ways in which different parts of the global Church interpret and prioritise the challenges they face.

The African bishops' rejection, framed in terms of an "African exceptionalism" that resists perceived Western moral relativism, contrasts with the German bishops' attempt to address the demands of their local context through structural reform.

Some clergy in Africa have even gone as far as to accuse the West of new colonialism through LGBTQ activism.

Culture, theology, governance, synodality

This juxtaposition of responses to the Church's challenges today illuminates the complex interplay between cultural context, theological interpretation, and ecclesial governance.

It raises important questions about how the Church can remain a unified body while respecting and incorporating the rich diversity of its global community.

A synodal Church as envisioned by the German proposal and broader ecclesial discussions, offers a potential pathway through this complex terrain.

By fostering a culture of listening and dialogue, a synodal approach promises to enable the Church to navigate better the tensions between unity and diversity, tradition and innovation.

Synodal Church - a new identity

The response to the German bishops' proposal demonstrates that the path toward a more synodal Church is fraught with challenges.

The critical question facing the Church today is not whether it will change but how it will change.

The current debates over synodality, ecclesial governance, and the role of the laity are not mere administrative concerns but are fundamentally about the identity and mission of the Church in the 21st century.

As the Church navigates these waters, it must find ways to honour its traditions while also responding to the legitimate aspirations of its members for greater participation and representation.

In conclusion, the curial letter to the German Bishops' Conference and the subsequent discussions it has generated represent a pivotal moment in the life of the Church.

The letter and ensuing discussions reflect a Church in dialogue with itself, struggling to reconcile its foundational beliefs with the pressing demands of a diverse and changing world.

The outcome of this dialogue will shape the future of the Church's governance and its ability to witness the Gospel in an increasingly pluralistic and interconnected global community.

• Dr Joe Grayland is currently a visiting professor at the University of Tübingen (Germany). For nearly 30 years, he has been a priest of the Diocese of Palmerston North in New Zealand.

Cardinal Robert McElroy (pictured) of San Diego is championing LGBTQ+ rights within the Catholic Church amidst a growing divide over same-sex blessings.

McElroy's remarks at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress underscored the importance of supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and those in complex marital situations.

However McIlroy noted the conflicting responses from bishops in other parts of the world.

"We have witnessed the reality that bishops of various parts of the world have made rapidly divergent decisions about the acceptability of such blessings in their countries, based substantially on cultural and pastoral factors as well as neocolonialism" McElroy claimed.

Church unity could be fractured

McElroy's stance stands in contrast to the Nigerian Catholic Bishops' rejection of Pope Francis's position on same-sex blessings.

The bishops argue that such blessings could be interpreted as endorsing same-sex marriage, leading to splits within the Church.

Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, speaking at the formal opening of the 2024 First Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), expressed concern that the Pope's stance could fracture the unity of the Church.

Ugorji highlighted the ambiguity of Fiducia Supplicans.

He noted its prohibition of liturgical blessings for same-sex couples while simultaneously recommending spontaneous pastoral blessings for couples in irregular situations - which might include same-sex couples.

Ugorji referred to the document's mixed reception worldwide, especially in Africa. Many African bishops and devout Catholics have rejected the idea of blessing same-sex unions, considering them contrary to natural law and traditional Church doctrine.

In his remarks at the LA Congress, McIlroy acknowledged that "it is wholly legitimate for a priest to personally decline to perform the blessings outlined in 'Fiducia' because he believes that to do so will undermine the strength of that union".

It is "distressing" the prelate said, that opposition to 'Fiducia' has focused "overwhelmingly on blessing those in same-sex relationships" compared to people in heterosexual relationships that also might be considered sinful.

Sources

National Catholic Reporter

Daily Post

CathNews New Zealand

He was contemplating two photos of a young gay female couple kissing and another one of a male gay couple kissing at their wedding ceremony.

"These images make me think the world is coming to an end," he said. "They are things you can't imagine happening, and people blindly support them."

The 55-year-old father of six, who owns a food kiosk in Wakiso, blamed the West for invading his culture and destroying its values.

He believes foreign governments are sponsoring LGBTQ people and their activities in the country.

"The people who call themselves LGBTQ activists are now recruiting many people, including our children," Lubega said.

"They don't know what they are doing, but they are destroying people's lives by engaging them in unethical activities.

"The West want to make our country Sodom and Gomorrah, and we won't accept it."

Illegal and immoral activity

Last year in May, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into law a measure calling for life imprisonment for anyone convicted of same-sex activity.

The law also calls for the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality," which involves cases of same-sex relations involving people who are HIV positive, children and other vulnerable people.

Lubega, who wants the government to ban LGBTQ rights groups, is a staunch Catholic, and like many of his co-religionists, opposes Pope Francis's recent move to allow priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples.

The organisation of Catholic bishops in Africa and Madagascar stated earlier this month that they will refuse to follow Francis' declaration.

The bishop of Lira Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok (pictured), has launched a campaign against all forms of LGBTQ identity or activism in northern Uganda.

He is calling on LGBTQ advocates to repent and seek God's blessings.

"It's shameful to see some people promoting sin and luring people to join in committing sin," Wanok told RNS.

"People must not accept homosexuality because it's a mockery of God, our creator."

Wanok, Lubega and others are among the religious leaders, government officials and some rights group activists who have blamed the West for promoting LGBTQ acceptance in the country.

They say the activities have recently increased with pro-gay activists targeting school-going children.

Praise for Pope

A Catholic LGBTQ activist who asked for anonymity for his safety praised Francis's declaration permitting priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples.

However, he said the Pope's approval has only prompted the Government and citizens to increase attacks on their members.

He said families have disowned LGBTQ members, churches have given strict instructions not to allow them in the church's compounds, landlords have evicted them and some have lost jobs.

"We live in fear because we cannot identify as gay, lesbian or transgender," said the activist.

"Pope Francis should give clear instructions to bishops and priests to allow LGBTQ members to worship God and nourish their spirits."

Cultural divisions

The Western world has for years called on African governments to give LGBTQ people equal rights by decriminalising same-sex sexual acts and protecting their rights.

In June last year, the United States imposed visa restrictions on dozens of Uganda officials in response to the country's anti-gay laws.

"As Africans, we should be very careful and not accept everything white people tell us," warned catechist Charles Kiwuwa from the Archdiocese of Tororo in the eastern region of Uganda, in an interview with RNS.

"They have told us that polygamy is a sin because they know most Africans embrace it and that homosexuality is righteousness because we disagree."

The Catholic leaders have begun a countrywide campaign to fight "agents of homosexuality" in the country who they believe are being supported by foreign governments to spread LGBTQ activism in schools and other institutions.

The church leaders have expressed concern over increasing cases of same-sex attraction among the youth and school-going children.

They are accusing these agents of luring school children with money and other luxurious gifts to recruit them.

"As a church, we have decided to fight homosexuality to save our children and the country from collapsing because the Bible teaches us that homosexuality is evil, as read in Genesis Chapters 18 and 19," the Rev. Richard Nyombi told RNS.

Nyombi, the parish priest of Mapeera Nabulagala in Kampala, said religious leaders had fought same-sex attraction from time immemorial, both in the Bible and today.

They are unwilling to allow foreign culture to influence the country.

"We are preaching against homosexuality during Mass and other gatherings to help our brothers and sisters not fall prey to the vice and for those who have already been lured into the practice to repent and follow God's way," he said.

Church leaders have been meeting with youth, parents, children, elders and government officers in an effort to curb the spread of "immoral" behavior among people, especially children.

The leaders have also been advising parents during Masses and other gatherings to warn their children against same-sex attraction and to urge them to be content with what their parents have given them, so they are not tempted by money.

"We have started to sensitise children in schools and homes against the vice of homosexuality," said the Rev. Fr. Francis Xavier Kikomeko, the parish priest of Kisubi in Kampala. They also offer weekly workshops, he said.

"We want to make children and parents aware that homosexuality is a sin, and pro-gay activists should never influence them to join LGTBQ groups because it's evil and not accepted in the Bible."

• Tonny Onyulo is an author at Religion News Service.
• First published in RNS. Republished with permission.

The declaration allows Catholic priests to bless couples - including same-sex couples - who according to church teaching may not marry.

The Church needs to return "to the clarity of the word of God" rather than "bowing down to this absolutely wrong LGBT and woke ideology" Müller says.

Müller, prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, says in his view there was "no need" for the declaration.

People in same-sex relationships are "not brought to the Church by relativising the truth and cheapening grace, but by the unadulterated Gospel of Christ" he says.

He believes as a consequence of Fiducia "nobody is speaking about the blessing of marriage, of children, of the family" which is "our duty" and "not to divide the Church".

Pope Francis explains

Pope Francis spoke of Fiducia Supplicans in an interview on Wednesday.

"Nobody is scandalised if I give a blessing to a businessman who may be exploiting people, and that is a very serious sin" he said.

"Whereas they are scandalised if I give it to a homosexual. This is hypocrisy!"

He also blesses everyone in the confessional. "I don't bless a ‘homosexual marriage', I bless two people who love each other."

Francis says blessing irregular relationships should be spontaneous, non-liturgical, and should not require moral perfection. The aim is to bless individuals, not their unions.

Confusion reigns

Given the Church already permits individual blessings, Müller says there was no need for Fiducia.

There is no clear explanation of the difference between a liturgical and the private benediction. Müller says there's a nebulous connotation instead of saying what is absolutely clear in the Gospel.

Even if the declaration were needed to stop the Church in Germany, in particular from offering liturgical same-sex blessings, Müller doesn't agree with them.

"We must say the truth: If I preach the Gospel, I am under the judgment of the Gospel. The preacher himself must be a model of all."

Nor is the declaration necessary to reach people wounded by the tragic consequences of the sex revolution to bring them back to the Church, he says.

They're not brought to the Church by relativising the truth and cheapening grace, but by the unadulterated Gospel of Christ, he says.

He also considers the declaration does not mention the sin of sexual relations outside marriage, same-sex acts, the importance of repentance and firm purpose of amendment, or exhorting the person to come to Christ.

What is needed is a real turning away from sin and a full conversion to the Lord, he says.

"Go back to the clarity of the word of God and what is said in the Catechism, and not this bowing down to this absolutely wrong LGBT and woke ideology.

"That is not modern, that is a falling back to the old paganism."

Source

• National Catholic Reporter

Father Seungbok Lee's actions have won applause from individuals and groups supporting same-sex couples' rights.

Two sets of female same-sex couples - Yeon Yeon and Yoon Hae, and Chris and Ari - are full of praise for Lee and the Catholic Church for their public blessing.

Other same-sex couples should feel encouraged to do the same Yeon says.

In line with the Vatican's guidelines, the blessing took place after Mass had been celebrated.

The Catholic group Arcus (Latin for "rainbow") arranged the Mass. The group, with the Archdiocese of Seoul's backing, was founded last May to offer support to LGBTQ people.

They were at the Mass to support the couple - as well as nuns and six priests from various parishes.

Being recognised

Both couples say the blessing has helped them feel like part of the Catholic community.

Chris and Ari, who had married in Canada in 2013, say "the fact that the two of us were blessed together is meaningful in itself.

"Receiving the blessing is a big step forward, but I feel that there are still mountains to overcome.

"I think it will take more time for social changes such as legalising same-sex marriage" Chris adds.

Yeon feels much the same way, saying "Tears continued to flow as I listened to the prayer during the blessing. I felt like my existence was being acknowledged for the first time.

"As a sexual minority couple, I felt like I was not even recognised for myself."

She also hopes the Church will formally approve same-sex marriages in the future.

Authority to bless same-sex and unmarried couples

The same-sex blessings followed the guidelines set out in a new document, Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust).

The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith published Fiducia - which Pope Francis formally authorised - on 18 December last year.

The document clears the way for Catholic priests to bless a same-sex or other unmarried couple.

However, it also says same-sex couple blessings cannot be formal liturgical blessings. Nor may they give the impression that the Church is blessing these unions as if they were a marriage.

Fiducia has not changed the Church's accepted definition of marriage, which must be between a man and a woman.

Rather, the document provides for only an informal and spontaneous blessing between same-sex or unmarried couples. This blessing is neither a sacrament nor a rite of the Catholic church, Fiducia says.

Source

• UCA News

The discussion, organised by the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture, delved into topics surrounding gender theory's perceived threat to Christian values and family structures.

Notable figures in attendance included Cardinals Virgilio Do Carmo da Silva (Timor-Leste), Oswald Gracias (India), William Goh (Singapore) and Patrick D'Rozario (Bangladesh).

Among the European cardinals were Willem Eijk (Netherlands), Angelo Bagnasco (Italy) and Dominik Duka (Czech Republic). Also joining them were several African and American prelates including Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone (San Francisco, USA).

Despite attempts to keep discussion of gender ideology under wraps, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja (Nigeria) inadvertently revealed details on his Facebook page.

The programme, not publicly disclosed by the Austin Institute, included talks by prominent figures such as Robert Gahl, a priest of Opus Dei and Cardinal Willem Eijk of Utrecht who cautioned against the implications of gender theory on family and faith.

The Austin Institute's president, Mark Regnerus, confirmed its role in organising and sponsoring the event, describing it as an "intellectual retreat".

However, details regarding funding sources and participant selection remained undisclosed.

Same-sex blessings controversy

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Italian magazine Credere, Pope Francis addressed the controversy surrounding blessings for same-sex couples. Emphasising the importance of respecting all individuals, the pontiff clarified "I don't bless a ‘homosexual marriage,' I bless two people who love each other."

His remarks shed light on the pastoral approach outlined in the document "Fiducia Supplicans," permitting informal blessings for gay couples without endorsing their union.

Despite criticism and societal expectations, Pope Francis reaffirmed his commitment to extending blessings to all, regardless of their circumstances.

Sources

La Croix International

America Magazine

CathNews New Zealand

"These images make me think the world is coming to an end," he said.

"They are things you can't imagine happening, and people blindly support them."

The 55-year-old father of six, who owns a food kiosk in Wakiso, blamed the West for invading his culture and destroying its values.

He believes foreign governments are sponsoring LGBTQ people and their activities in the country.

"The people who call themselves LGBTQ activists are now recruiting many people, including our children," Lubega said.

"They don't know what they are doing, but they are destroying people's lives by engaging them in unethical activities. The West want to make our country Sodom and Gomorrah, and we won't accept it."

Last year in May, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into law a measure calling for life imprisonment for anyone convicted of same-sex activity.

The law also calls for the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality," which involves cases of same-sex relations involving people who are HIV positive, children and other vulnerable people.

Many LGBTQ Ugandans have since fled to neighbouring countries to escape homophobia.

Lubega, who wants the government to ban LGBTQ rights groups, is a staunch Catholic, and like many of his co-religionists opposes Pope Francis' recent move to allow priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples.

The organisation of Catholic bishops in Africa and Madagascar stated earlier this month that they will refuse to follow Francis' declaration.

The bishop of Lira Diocese, the Rt Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, has launched a campaign against all forms of LGBTQ identity or activism in northern Uganda, calling LGBTQ advocates to repent and seek God's blessings.

"It's shameful to see some people promoting sin and luring people to join in committing sin," Wanok told RNS.

"People must not accept homosexuality because it's a mockery of God, our creator."

They are among the religious leaders, government officials and some rights group activists who have blamed the West for promoting LGBTQ acceptance in the country, saying the activities have recently increased with pro-gay activists targeting school-going children.

A Catholic LGBTQ activist who asked for anonymity for his safety praised Francis' declaration permitting priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples.

However, he said the pope approval has only prompted the government and citizens to increase attacks on their members.

He said families have disowned LGBTQ members, churches have given strict instructions not to allow them in the church's compounds, landlords have evicted them and some have lost jobs.

"We live in fear because we cannot identify as gay, lesbian or transgender," said the activist.

"Pope Francis should give clear instructions to bishops and priests to allow LGBTQ members to worship God and nourish their spirits."

The Western world has for years called on African governments to give LGBTQ people equal rights by decriminalizing same-sex sexual acts and protecting their rights.

In June last year, the United States imposed visa restrictions on dozens of Uganda officials in response to the country's anti-gay laws.

"As Africans, we should be very careful and not accept everything white people tell us," warned catechist Charles Kiwuwa from the Archdiocese of Tororo in the eastern region of Uganda in an interview with RNS.

"They have told us that polygamy is a sin because they know most Africans embrace it and that homosexuality is righteousness because we disagree."

The Catholic leaders have begun a countrywide campaign to fight "agents of homosexuality" in the country who they believe are being supported by foreign governments to spread LGBTQ activism in schools and other institutions.

The church leaders have expressed concern over increasing cases of same-sex attraction among the youth and school-going children, accusing these agents of luring school children with money and other luxurious gifts to recruit them.

"As a church, we have decided to fight homosexuality to save our children and the country from collapsing because the Bible teaches us that homosexuality is evil, as read in Genesis Chapters 18 and 19," the Rev Richard Nyombi told RNS.

Nyombi, the parish priest of Mapeera Nabulagala in Kampala, said religious leaders had fought same-sex attraction from time immemorial, both in the Bible and today, and they are unwilling to allow foreign culture to influence the country.

"We are preaching against homosexuality during Mass and other gatherings to help our brothers and sisters not fall prey to the vice and for those who have already been lured into the practice to repent and follow God's way," he said.

Church leaders have been meeting with youth, parents, children, elders and government officers in an effort to curb the spread of "immoral" behaviour among people, especially children.

The leaders have also been advising parents during Masses and other gatherings to warn their children against same-sex attraction and to urge them to be content with what their parents have given them, so they are not tempted by money.

"We have started to sensitize children in schools and homes against the vice of homosexuality," said the Rev. Fr Francis Xavier Kikomeko, the parish priest of Kisubi in Kampala, who also said they offer weekly workshops.

"We want to make children and parents aware that homosexuality is a sin, and pro-gay activists should never influence them to join LGTBQ groups because it's evil and not accepted in the Bible."

Source

• Tonny Onyulo is an author at Religion News Service
• First published in RNS. Republished with permission.

The Vatican's announcement, titled "Fiducia Supplicans," drew criticism from conservatives, with some Catholic bishops in Africa expressing strong disapproval.

However Pope Francis described the objections from certain African bishops as stemming from cultural differences, acknowledging the negative perception of homosexuality in many African societies.

Despite the criticism, Pope Francis remains steadfast in his belief in inclusivity within the Church, emphasising the need for understanding and unity amidst differing perspectives.

"Those who protest vehemently belong to small ideological groups" Francis told the Italian daily La Stampa.

Should we write a list of sinners who can enter the church

Emphasising the inclusive nature of the declaration, Pope Francis reiterated the Church's stance on welcoming everyone, stating "We are all sinners: why then should we write a list of sinners who can enter the church and a list of sinners who cannot stay in the church? This is not the Gospel."

Addressing concerns about potential schisms within the Church, the Pope expressed confidence and urged a forward-looking approach, stating "You must let them be, and walk and look ahead."

In a forthcoming interview with the Catholic magazine Credere, Pope Francis highlighted the inconsistency of being scandalised by blessings for homosexual couples while overlooking serious sins in other contexts.

"No one is scandalised if I give my blessing to a businessman who perhaps exploits people, and this is a very serious sin, and they are scandalised if I bless a homosexual… This is hypocrisy" the pontiff said.

While some episcopal conferences globally have welcomed the move to same-sex blessings, conservative factions have denounced it as blasphemous. To mitigate confusion, guidelines were issued, stipulating that blessings for couples in irregular situations should not coincide with civil union ceremonies.

Sources

La Prensa Latina

Religion News Service