Pope Francis Is Contradicted by Nairobi  Archbishop

Pope Francis Is Contradicted by Nairobi Archbishop

Pope Francis Is Contradicted by Nairobi Archbishop

In a move seen as a defiance of Pope Francis’s declaration earlier in the week  urging priests and bishops worldwide to bless same-sex couples, Nairobi Archbishop Philip Anyolo on Saturday instructed the clergy in  the Archdiocese of Nairobi not to bless same-sex couples. Archbishop Anyolo objected to Pope Francis’ ruling in his message, claiming that  the Catholic Church and Christianity as a whole only acknowledge marriage as a  union  between a man and a woman.

The clergyman stated that any deviation from this goes against the principles of religion.”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” (n. 4),” the statement read.

The Archbishop went further to state that the church did not have the power to be able to bless same-sex couples.He further pointed out that same-sex marriages go against African cultural traditions, affirming that such a proposal was unwelcome.

Such relationships are likewise strongly condemned by God’s word. It is deeply opposed to life transmission, which is why African cultural traditions abhor it as well,” he said.The Nairobi Archbishop said, “Those who live in irregular marriage situations are not allowed by the church and are excluded from full sacramental participation because of these reasons.”

Archbishop Anyolo urged all clergy serving in the Nairobi Archdiocese to refrain from bestowing blessings on same-sex marriages in his proclamation.Moses Kuria, the cabinet secretary for public services, praised Archbishop Anyolo’s remarks that Kenya will not recognize the Pope’s pronouncement.

The position of the Roman Catholic Church in Kenya is united behind Archbishop Anyolo’s decision to bless same-sex marriages. With the deepest regard and reverence for the Pope, we in the Kenyan Church will never accept same-sex couples.

According to Kuria’s postKenyan Catholic bishops Archbishop Martin Kivuva, the chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), released a statement on Wednesday asserting that the Pope forbade priests and bishops from approving same-sex unions.According to the priests, the Pope’s statement solely pertains to basic blessings that are not bestowed during a liturgical ceremony.