Nairobi Archbishop Philip Anyolo has defied a decision by Pope Francis to allow Catholic Church priests to bless same-sex couples.
Through a statement, the Archbishop noted that the decision is against the traditional Catholic Church doctrines governing marriages and family.
He continued by saying that the church advocates for marriages between a man and woman only and that it does not have any power to bless same-sex marriages.
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“This Declaration confirms and reiterates the perennial teaching of the Church that marriage is to be affirmed as an “exclusive, stable and indissoluble union of a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children” (n. 4).
..and that the “Church does not have the power to impart blessings on unions of persons of the same sex” (n. 5).” he said
He continued by saying that the teachings on marriage are in the Bible and that same-sex marriages are against traditions and most importantly African traditions thus the decision is now welcomed in the country.
“he word of God also strongly condemns such unions (Rom 1:24-27; 1 Car 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10). The African cultural traditions equally detest it as it is dearly against transmission of life.
It is for this reason that the Church excludes those living in irregular situations of marriage from full sacramental participation in the life of the Church.
To make sure the fundamental doctrinal positions affirmed in the Declaration, and the perennial teachings of the Church on marriage, is upheld, all Clergy residing and ministering in the Archdiocese of Nairobi are prohibited from blessing irregular relationships, unions, or same sex couples.
Any form of blessing of same-sex unions and activities would go against God’s word, the teaching of the church, the African cultural traditions, the laws of our nations, and would be scandolous to the faithful,” he said
