By Deogratias Mmana
Catholic bishops under the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) have banned blessings of any kind and for same sex unions following the confusion that has emerged from the Vatican’s declaration that allows the church to give blessings to anyone including same-sex couples.
The Vatican document released on Monday by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has affirmed the Catholic Church’s position that the Sacrament of Marriage is between a man and a woman and does not legitimise same-sex marriages but allows those in such unions to get blessings if they ask for them.
The document, authored by the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez and Secretary for the Doctrinal Section Monsignor Armando Matteo, says giving blessings to persons in same-sex union does not mean constituting the Sacrament of Marriage.
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The document says God never turns away anyone who approaches him and ultimately a blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God. But Malawi bishops yesterday issued a statement “clarifying” the matter, adding that the preaching of the church on marriage remains the same, that is being between a man and woman.
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The bishops say the declaration is not about the blessing of same -ex unions and sacramental endorsement of the same as married couples.
The bishops also say the declaration, while differentiating the meaning and levels of various blessings, reiterates that the church’s teaching on marriage defined as ‘an exclusive’ stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children, remains firm.
“Therefore, the declaration says, rites and prayers that could create a confusion between what constitutes marriage and what contradicts it are not allowed.
“The same document stresses that the church has always considered only those sexual relations that are lived out within marriage to be morally licit.
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“Having stated the above, and to avoid creating confusion among the faithful, we direct that for pastoral reasons, blessings of any kind and for same sex unions of any kind, are not permitted in Malawi,” the statement says.
ECM Secretary General Fr. Valeriano Mtseka confirmed the bishops’ statement.
In the so-called controversial document, which we have seen, the Dicastery says one should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation.
At the same time, the document says one should not present or prohibit the church’s closeness to people in every situation.
Such a blessing may instead find its space in other contexts, such as a visit to a shrine, a meeting with a priest, a prayer reached in a group or during a pilgrimage, according to the document.
“Indeed through these blessings that are given not through the ritual forms proper to the liturgy but as an expression of the church’s maternal heart-similar to those that emanate from the core of popular piety-there is no intention to legitimise anything but rather to open one’s life to God to ask for his help to live better and also to invoke the Holy Spirit so that the values of the Gospel may be lived with greater faithfulness,” the document reads. Pope Francis also cautions ordained ministers to avoid normalising their decisions that may be part of pastoral prudence in certain circumstances.
“That is to say, it is not appropriate for a Diocese, a Bishops’ Conference or any other ecclesial structure to constantly and officially establish procedures on rituals for all kinds of matters,” the document reads.
Other bishops from other countries also made comments on social media. Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States of America said: “While today’s declaration from the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith affirms that the Sacrament of Marriage can only be between one man and one woman, it also gives us an important reminder of the love and mercy of Jesus.
“A blessing is not a sacrament, and anybody can give a blessing to anybody else. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to extend His love and mercy to all our brothers and sisters including LGBTQ+ couples, without qualification of judgement.”
And Cardinal Robert Sarah wrote: “I am hurt by seeing so many pastors selling Catholic doctrine and creating divisions among the faithful.
“We owe the Christian people clear, firm and stable teaching. How can we accept that bishops’ conferences contradict each other? Where confusion reigns God cannot live.”
In Malawi, the Vatican’s declaration has sparked a heated debate in various fora, including social media with some quarters arguing blessing same-sex couples is not any different from officially recognising them.
