Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, in an interview with BBC, affirmed that the Catholic Church has not altered its doctrine on same-sex marriage.
He addressed the recent Vatican document approved by Pope Francis, emphasizing that it was misunderstood, leading to misconceptions about the Church’s stance.
The document, released on Monday, permits priests to bless same-sex and irregular couples under specific circumstances. Onaiyekan clarified that this should not be interpreted as a seismic shift in the Church’s position but rather a response to irregular situations such as divorce, remarriage, and polygamous unions.
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Contrary to public perception, Onaiyekan underscored that the document does not endorse same-sex marriage blessings. “Pope Francis has not changed the Church’s doctrine on same-sex marriage,” he stated unequivocally. The Cardinal explained that the document addresses situations not in line with church rules, encompassing diverse scenarios, including same-sex couples presenting themselves for marriage.
The Archbishop Emeritus highlighted Pope Francis’s consistent message that there is no recognition of marriage between individuals of the same sex. “If there is no marriage, there cannot be a marriage blessing,” he affirmed, dispelling the notion that the Church has shifted its stance on this matter.
Further elucidating, Onaiyekan made a crucial distinction between ordinary blessings and liturgical blessings. While the former is permissible for various situations, including same-sex couples, polygamous couples, and divorced and remarried individuals, the latter, associated with formal worship, is not applicable in these cases.
“If there is anything new at all, it will be that the Holy Father has drawn our attention to the need not to reject anybody who asks for a blessing because there is always some level of blessing you can give to them,” Onaiyekan stated.
He likened the Church’s approach to blessing diverse individuals to the practice of blessing Muslims in hospitals or even domestic animals.
In essence, the Cardinal emphasized that the document’s primary purpose is to address irregular situations within the Church’s teachings, reinforcing the importance of blessings for everyone seeking them, without altering the fundamental doctrine on same-sex marriage.
