Kenyan Catholic Bishops Clarify Pope Francis Hasn't Blessed LGBTQ: "He Invited Them To God's Grace"

• Pope Francis' proclamation directing the Catholic priests to bless unions of queer community members raffled feathers the world over
• The antagonists in the question faulted the move as it was punching holes into the sanctity of marriage, which has been defined as one bringing a man and woman together
• The Kenyan clerics took it upon themselves to clarify the papal document, saying it sought to advance tolerance, adding "it was inviting the LGBTQ aficionados to the Grace of God"

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - The Kenyan Catholic bishops have sought to absolve Pope Francis over his latest remarks pleasing to the queer community.

The papal head of the Vatican allowed priests to bless same-gender couples who fellowship in the Roman Catholic Church.

Inside Pope Francis' controversial document

He said that priests should be permitted to bless same-sex couples and irregular couples under certain circumstances.

The development elicited reactions from various quarters of the larger religious sphere, with a majority striving to discredit it, saying it was against the traditions.

The local clerics under the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops then shouldered themselves with the responsibility of clarifying the Pope's pronouncement.

Kenyan bishops clear the air

According to them, the pontiff did not approve same-gender marriages or change the understanding of marriage, as a sacrament of the Church, between a man and a woman.

In a statement on Wednesday, December 20, the bishops implied that the proclamation by the Pope was mistaken to okay such unions through the backdoor.

“This declaration does not in any way approve of "same-sex marriages" nor try to give a back-door recognition of such a union. It does not seek an alternative "union blessing" to substitute a Sacramental marriage,” read the statement in part.

According to them, the Pope was embracing tolerance, explaining that inviting the members of the queer community into the church spaces was not akin to endorsing their orientations.

His argument, as interpreted by the bishops, was that all humans are equal regardless of the cultures they choose to embrace.

“The Church does not withhold a blessing to an individual who seeks it with an attitude of truth and faith. This blessing can be given even to non-Catholics, or non-Christians who honestly wish to receive God's blessing,” the bishops stated.

"God welcomes all"

According to CNN, the Vatican said blessings should not be part of regular Church rituals or related to civil unions or weddings. It also added that it continues to view marriage as between a man and a woman.

Pope Francis while approving of the proclamation said the decision to accommodate the queers should be a sign that "God welcomes all".

The document was however categorical that priests must decide on a case-by-case basis.

He added that during the ritual, the couples should not show up in a dress that suggests a wedding set-up, and language that would suggest the same should not be used.

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