The Prelate of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu, has given a condition for accepting same-sex marriage in the church.
While sending out his Christmas message on Wednesday, Ameyu responded to the question of blessing same-sex marriage couples in the church days after the media reported that the Vatican had authorized priests to bless such unions.
In a landmark ruling approved by Pope Francis on Monday, Roman Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies.
“In Europe, these abnormal relationships have already been realized in society. We do not condemn Europe because of that but we know that the teaching of the church is clear – that there is no same-sex marriage,” Cardinal Ameyu told reporters in Juba on Wednesday.
“The church will not recognize this question of the same-sex marriage unless our carnal laws and catechism are changed.”
Cardinal and catechism laws define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
“What happens these days is whether the marriage between a man and a man or a woman and a woman can be blessed. But the Holy Father and the teaching of the church are clear regarding that,” Ameyu emphasized.
However, the prelate said the role of the church is to respond to sinners with mercy as an attribute of God, offer services, and convert them to God-fearing people.
“The church takes mercy first. That’s why sometimes we are concerned about people who are criminals – people who have killed people. We turn to them in mercy. So, the state of life that somebody lives does not exclude him from the concern of the church because God is merciful. He is merciful to all,” said Ameyu.
“Be merciful to others provide services to others who need the services, and the church can do a lot in order to convince people in their state of sins to come back to the church and be converted.”
A document from the Vatican’s doctrinal office, which effectively reversed a declaration the same body had issued in 2021, said such blessings would not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all, reported Reuters.
