We will not bless your union if you are homosexual, Catholic bishop says

Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe acknowledges greetings of his worshipers during ordination to the sacred orders to diaconate at Kakamega St. Joseph Catholic Diocese on December 22, 2023. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

The Catholic Church in Kakamega will not bless any same-sex marriages, Bishop Joseph Obanyi has warned.

Bishop Obanyi said "We will chase away" people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community who seek blessings from priests in churches in Kakamega diocese.

"Anyone who comes to me or any other priest and is gay with the intention that we join them in marriage or even bless their union will be chased away. We stick to what we have been teaching from time immemorial about marriage being between opposite sex," he said.

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The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith issued a declaration titled Fiducia Supplicans, on December 18, 2023, which authorizes non-liturgical blessings of "same-sex couples" and other couples in "irregular situations."

However, Bishop Obanyi warned the LGBTQ groups from riding on the Papal communication issued on Monday as an endorsement of the outlawed act of homosexuality among Catholics in Kenya.

"Pro LGBTQ+ groups are reading the document upside down. They should read it correctly as it does not endorse same-sex marriage as they are interpreting it," he said.

The Fiducia Supplicans says blessings to gays can be offered during a visit to a Catholic shrine in a meeting with a priest, a group prayer or during a pilgrimage.