The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has said that the Catholic Church has not changed their doctrine on same-sex marriage adding that the document Pope Francis approved regarding blessing of same sex couples was misinterpreted.
Onaiyekan disclosed this in an interview with BBC.
The document released on Monday by the Vatican allows priest to bless same-sex and irregular couples under certain circumstances.
Speaking on the document which some viewed as a historic shift for the position of the Catholic Church regarding same-sex marriage, Onaiyekan insisted that despite pressure to conform, the Catholic Church has not changed and they won’t bless same sex marriage.
“Pope Francis has not changed any such thing. He has not changed the Church doctrine on same-sex marriage.
“Actually what the document is saying is that you cannot bless a homosexual couples in presence of themselves and they are not to be blessed as couples. It is not allowed”, he said
The renowned Catholic archbishop argued that Pope Francis has repeated that there is no such thing as marriage between two person of the same sex.
“So if there is no marriage there cannot be marriage blessing”, he said
Speaking further on the said document, the Emeritus pointed out that the document is not meant to deal with LGBT, ” it is meant to deal with irregular situations which is largely having to do with divorce and remarried couples, polygamous and all forms people who are living together as husband and wife but not in line with church rules.”
He added that this also applies to same-sex couples who present themselves for marriage.
The cleric also clarified that they can bless same-sex couples, polygamous couples, divorce and remarried couples just like “the way we go to the hospital to bless Muslims who are lying in bed, or bless pagans. We can also bless domestic animals”.
Onaiyekan explained that if there is anything new at all it means Pope Francis is reminding them of the need to bless everyone who ask for blessings.
He said, “If there is anything new at all, it will be that the Holy Father has drawn our attention to need not to reject anybody who asks for blessing because there is always some level of blessing you can give to them.”
The Archbishop Emeritus, however, noted that “the document makes a distinction between ordinary blessing and what we called in our language liturgical blessing – meaning blessing that has to do with formal worship. There is no room for liturgical blessing for these people.”
