The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has announced that blessing same-sex marriages was against God’s law.
The Nigerian bishops, who had reacted to the controversy arising from Pope Francis’ directive that Catholic priests were free to bless same-sex couples, had also said that blessing same-sex marriage was against the teachings of the Church, the laws of the country and the cultural sensibilities of Nigerians.
The bishops had revealed their stance via a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Ibadan.
The statement was signed by the CBCN President and the Secretary: Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji and Most Rev. Donatus Ogun, along with other executives.
The bishops insisted that the teachings of the Catholic Church on marriage remained the same.
“There is absolutely no possibility in the Church, of blessing same-sex unions and activities; that simply goes against God’s law, the teachings of the church, the laws of our nation as well as the cultural sensibilities of our people.”
“We acknowledge all priests for their accompaniment of married couples, asking them to carry on in all they do to encourage the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. We urge them to never do anything that will lessen/minimise from the sacredness of this sacrament,” the Nigerian Catholic Bishops statement read.
