The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has commended the decision of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) for rejecting the push for endorsement of same-sex union or marriage by Pope Francis.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary, Joseph Daramola Bade, the Association agreed with the Pope that the godly and timely decision was “not intended to be a form of unjust discrimination, but rather a reminder of the truth of the liturgical rite.”
“Our joy knew no bounds when we learnt that the decision of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) rejecting the same-sex union or marriage was endorsed by Pope Francis.
“It is one decision too many. We agreed with the Pope that the godly and timely decision is ‘not intended to be a form of unjust discrimination, but rather a reminder of the truth of the liturgical rite’. CAN commends Pope Francis for standing by the Scripture that is superior to any civilization, ” the statement read.
It added that the decision was the position of the Scripture as stated unambiguously in Genesis 9:20-27, Genesis 19:1-11, Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:18-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 1:10.
It said that whatever law that contradicted these passages of the Bible was totally unacceptable, reprehensible and must be rejected.
“Even the practice is accursed to the animals; we wonder why normal human beings will be practising it and we condemn it in strong terms.
“We totally agree with the Vatican that, what is to be blessed needs to be ‘objectively and positively ordered’ to receive and express the grace, according to the designs of God inscribed in creation, and fully revealed by Christ the Lord.
“For this reason, it is not licit to impart a blessing on relationships, or partnerships, even stable, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage (i.e., outside the indissoluble union of a man and a woman open in itself to the transmission of life), as is the case of the unions between persons of the same sex.
“We call on any government, especially in Africa, that has endorsed same-sex marriage to retreat from the practice.
“We commend the Nigerian government for resisting the pressure to reverse its earlier anti-same-sex policy and law,” it stated.
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