Nigerian Catholic Bishops Will Not Bless Same-sex Unions'

Nigerian Catholic Bishops announce they will not be approving same-sex marriages, citing that it is against God's law. Pope Francis

According to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), it is against God's law to approve of same-sex marriages.

In response to the controversy surrounding Pope Francis's order allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex marriages, the Nigerian bishops stated that approving same-sex marriages goes against the country's legal system, church doctrine, and Nigerian cultural norms.

This was stated by the bishops in a statement that was provided to reporters in Ibadan on Thursday. Along with other executives, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, the president of the CBCN, and Most Rev. Donatus Ogun, the secretary, both signed the statement. The bishops maintained that the Catholic Church's teachings on marriage would not change. The bishops declared that anyone who asks for a blessing—a prayer or entreaty typically offered by a minister—does so out of a desire to live by God's instructions.

As such, “those in irregular unions are invited never to lose hope but rather to ask for God's grace and mercy while remaining open to conversion,” the statement issued on Wednesday said.

As such, "those in irregular unions are invited never to lose hope but rather to ask for God's grace and mercy while remaining open to conversion," the statement issued on Wednesday said.

Read: Pope Francis Permits Priests To Certify Same-sex Unions

In conclusion, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria assures the entire People of God that the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage remains the same, the statement added.

“There is, therefore, no possibility in the Church of blessing same-sex unions and activities. That would go against God's law, the teachings of the Church, the laws of our nation and the cultural sensibilities of our people. We thank all the priests for their accompaniment of married couples, asking them to continue in all they do to sustain the sacrament of Holy Matrimony and never to do anything that will detract from the sacredness of this sacrament,” the Nigerian Catholic Bishops said.