In the greatest rebuke yet to Pope Francis, the Catholic bishops of Africa and Madagascar issued a unified statement Thursday refusing to follow his declaration allowing priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples and asserting that such unions are “contrary to the will of God.” The statement, signed by Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo on behalf of the symposium of African national bishops conferences, marked the closest thing to a continent-wide dissent from the declaration Francis approved Dec. 18 allowing priests to offer such blessings.
The Vatican has entered full damage control mode less than a month after creating mass confusion in December through its document allowing Catholic priests to bless people in same-sex relationships.
A seminar on the perspective of integral ecology in India is currently taking place in Bengaluru under the auspices of Catholic bishops. In his introductory address, the Archbishop of Hyderabad said: “Integral ecological care is not just a concept; it is a living expression of our love for God and our love for our neighbours, both near and far.”
Church leaders pray for peace and condemn hate in Europe and US thetablet.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thetablet.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
European bishops on Wednesday demanded the immediate release of Nicaraguan clergy detained in the government s crackdown on the Catholic Church, saying they have been falsely accused and are being subjected to unjust persecution.