BLESSING SAME SEX COUPLES - A REFLECTION
On the outset, it is important to state the three long held teachings of the Catholic Church on marriage and these are;
- The Catholic Church considers marriage as an exclusive, stable and indissoluble union between man and woman.
- The Catholic Church has always considered only those sexual relations that are lived out within a male-female marriage to be morally licit.
- The Catholic Church has no authority to administer the Sacrament of Matrimony on same sex couples; the Church cannot legitimize a sinful union of same sex couples.
None of the three teachings outlined above have been violated, breached or outlawed; in the now controversial document Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Truth) , instead, they have been reaffirmed. The use of the word ‘couple’ in the Declaration is an indication that this document is addressed to those who are gay as well. The violation, breach or outlaw exists only in the weird imagination of the external enemies of the Church who in their quest to divide and steal unsuspecting Catholics are using this document to paint the Pope and the Church black. For the internal enemies of the Church, they are using the document to alienate the Pope from his brother Bishops and the Church.
All of a sudden we have seen lay Catholics debating this issue in a manner that make them appear to be more Catholic than the Pope, more theologically knowledgeable than the Pope! Be it known that the best of resources of the Catholic Church are at the disposal of the Pope; in this instance, the best of the Catholic Theologians read through this document before the Pope approved it.
For those who want to use this document Fiducia Supplicans as a fishing expedition to woo Catholics to join their denominations, they should know that the Catholic Church is not about numbers but about preserving the faith as handed down to her by our Lord Jesus Christ through the Apostles.
This is the number one duty of the Pope and his brother Bishops to preserve the faith intact, in totality as willed by our Lord Jesus Christ. Though there are 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, it is a statistic that the Catholic Church treats as a blessing, of thanks giving to Almighty God not of her sole existence or boasting. These are Catholics who freely choose to join the Catholic Church without any cohesion, war of conquest or recruited via crusades.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) Pastoral Statement has correctly observed in paragraph one that, “The declaration Fiducia Supplicans has however raised several questions, confusions and anxieties among the faithful and the people of goodwill, as now it has become an issue of allowing blessing of same-sex marriages.”
The questions, confusions and anxieties have been caused by the faithful and people of goodwill who have not read the declaration Fiducia Supplicans or they have read it but do not understand it. These are people who are reacting to the false screaming electronic media headlines like; Pope Okays Gay Marriages! Catholic Church Retreats on Gay Marriages! Or The Beginning Of The End Of The Catholic Church! In communities where reading is a life style, there are no such questions, confusions and anxieties.
It is no surprise therefore that it is mainly in the African communities where the Declaration Fiducia Supplicans has created questions, confusions and anxieties because in most African communities reading is optional or nonexistent.
It is normal in African communities for one to join mourners and start wailing even if the deceased and cause of death are not known. In environments like this one, the Episcopal Conferences in African countries, Zambia included should be applauded for their wisdom in deferring the implementation of Fiducia Supplicans.
The document can only be implemented once the questions, confusions and anxieties are explained and resolved.
It should be appreciated that no law or culture can block the Mercy, Love and Goodness of God.
What the document Fiducia Supplicans has brought to the fore among other revelations is that, the Bible is abound with examples of blessings; which it has classified as ‘descending’ e.g. the Priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24-26, ‘ascending’ as Melchizedeck, King of Salem blesses Abram (Gen.14:19) or a blessing can be ‘extending’ i.e. a blessing imparted by man that extends towards others; e.g. Zachariah (LK.1; 64).
And most importantly, the declaration states that the highest blessing God has bestowed on Mankind is the blessing of Jesus the Christ who died for us whilst we were still sinners (Rom.5:8). It is in the context of this verse; it is the foundational verse that same sex couples or those living in irregular unions can ask and access non-Liturgical, non-Sacramental or ordinary blessing which the Church has ALWAYS given to WHOEVER asks of them.
The blessing that is due to the same sex couple is not a blessing of affirmation but like the title of the Declaration Supplicating Trust, the blessing is that of Supplication for God’s Mercy, Love and Goodness. The sin of homosexuality is no greater than that of the adulterous heterosexual couples. Just as there are committed same sex couples there are heterosexual couples who are committed adulterers too.
If it is in order for an adulterous heterosexual couple to receive a blessing of absolution when they go for the Sacrament of Confession; why should it be wrong for a same sex couple to ask and receive a blessing of Supplication in a manner that is explained above? If owners of vehicles and farm produce take these items for a blessing, what sin is there in imparting a blessing of Supplication to the same sex couples?
In as much as homosexuality is condemned and rightly so, no institution has come up with a way of helping those who are gay to turn away from such sinful behaviour,
All we have seen are punitive laws prohibiting same sex unions such as death sentences, life imprisonments, etc Will have Jesus treated gay couples in this way? Law, however punitive it is has never eradicated anything.
In Zambia and other countries there is the Penal code, but has criminality been eradicated? Science has proved that there is no gay gene meaning the problem is psychological, it is a mental disorder. Just as the efficacy of the blessing of absolution has the power to cleanse a penitent, the efficacy of the blessing of Supplication could be the magic wand that could just start the healing process for homosexuals.
Through the efficacy of the blessing of Supplication, the Mercy of God can start changing these homosexuals and shed the light of truth into the minds of those who are gay so that they start appreciating God’s good intention of what constitutes a valid marriage.
In paragraph 5 ( c ) of the ZCCB Pastoral Statement, it is stated that, “…the Conference guides that the Declaration from the Diacastry for the Doctrine of the Faith of December 18, 2023, concerning the blessing of same sex couples be taken for further reflection and not for implementation in Zambia.” It is in obedience to the guidance of my Lord Bishops that this reflection is prepared.