Nairobi Archbishop Defies Pope’s Order: Philip Anyolo, the Nairobi Archbishop on Saturday told the clergy in the Archdiocese of Nairobi not to bless same-sex couples in a move seen to be defiant to the declaration by Pope Francis.
The Pope had earlier this week released a statement through the Vatican issued a declaration calling on priests and bishops worldwide to bless same-sex couples.
Archbishop Anyolo claimed that the church and the Christian religion at large only recognizes marriage as an institution of man and woman and not same sex as pope wants the clergy to believe.
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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”
The Archbishop said that the church did not have the power to be able to bless same-sex couples as they go against African cultural traditions, affirming that such a proposal was unwelcome.
“The word of God also strongly condemns such unions. The African cultural traditions equally detest it as it is dearly against transmission of life.”
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He also called on all clergy residing and ministering in the Archdiocese of Nairobi not to bless same-sex couples terming them irregular situations of marriage and therefore are not allowed by the church and are excluded from full sacramental participation.
The Pope’s Declaration was met by criticism from the Roman Catholic Church congregants who took to social media to oppose the move terming it as ungodly and unwelcome in the church.
According to Vatican, the declaration is active and the clergy should ensure that any Same-Sex Couples who come for blessings should be blessed without discrimination whatsoever.