Senegal’s Catholic bishops have announced their refusal to bless same-sex couples, joining the chorus of conservative voices in Africa that oppose the Vatican’s recent declaration on the matter.
Recall that the Vatican said last month that priests could bless “irregular” and same-sex couples in some situations, as long as they were not related to civil unions or weddings.
The statement, which was endorsed by Pope Francis, did not alter the Church’s doctrine on same-sex marriages or unions, which it rejects.
However, the declaration sparked a backlash among some African Catholics, who saw it as a compromise on the issues of gay marriage and homosexuality, which the Church condemns.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the bishops of Senegal said they would not allow any form of blessing for two people of the same sex who requested it as “same-sex couples” in their dioceses.
They said homosexuality and other “moral deviations” were an abomination against God’s will, and that the Church cared for every person regardless of their choices and orientations.
Senegal is one of the 30 African countries that criminalize homosexuality, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA).
Gay sex is considered “against nature” and can lead to up to five years in prison.
The Catholic community coexists peacefully with the Muslim majority in the West African nation, where many view being gay as a foreign influence.
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), which represents the continent’s Catholic bishops, had already expressed its disapproval of the Vatican’s declaration in January, saying it was inappropriate for Africa and would cause confusion and contradiction with the cultural values of African communities.
The Vatican later clarified its statement, saying it did not deviate from doctrine and urging caution in countries where the issue was sensitive.
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