The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) are insisting that marriage remains an exclusive union between a man and woman. The bishops’ position comes as a clarification for the recent pastoral meaning of blessings for same sex marriage attributed to the Pope.
The CBCN in a statement released on Thursday clarified the Pope’s position on the Pastoral blessings, saying it should not be imparted during or in connection with a civil wedding ceremony or with clothing, words, and signs associated with a wedding.
“The Declaration reiterates the Catholic Church’s perennial teaching on marriage as an “exclusive, stable and indissoluble union of a man and woman, naturally open to the generation of children” and emphatically states that the Church does not have the power to impart a blessing on irregular unions,” the bishops said.
In other words, while ritual or liturgical blessings are imparted according to the established norms of the Church, informal blessings (like in the case of same sex marriage) refer to prayers over people who ask for them outside the liturgy or any formal celebration in the Church.
Accordingly, the bishops posited that the declaration by the Pope offers a consideration of the possibility of extending the informal blessing to all of God’s children, irrespective of their moral condition, when they ask to be blessed.
“The Declaration also reinforces the truth about God’s mercy. For one to willingly ask for a blessing demonstrates one’s trust in God and the desire to live according to God’s commandments. Asking for God’s blessing is not dependent on how good one is,” the bishops said.
“Imperfection is the reason for seeking God’s grace. Therefore, those in irregular unions are invited never to lose hope but rather to ask for God’s grace and mercy while remaining open to conversion.”
