The recent landmark decision by the Vatican’s doctrinal office to allow Roman Catholic Church priests to bless unions between same-sex couples, and endorsed by Pope Francis, has invoked mixed reactions amongst the public and churches.
Rights for All Movement Trust executive director Wendelinus Hamutenya-Jeremia said the Pope’s recent announcement is pivotal, and shows the Roman Catholic Church (RCC)’s commitment to inclusivity.
He said despite legal challenges, the church’s decision is a positive step for same-sex couples who believe and echo that “love is love”, as shared by individuals engaged with the community.
As an RCC member, Hamutenya-Jeremia applauds Pope Francis for dealing with the matter openly.
“We hope to have a conversation with the church and the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN), especially regarding non-discriminatory attitudes towards the LGBQI+ communities. God loves us all. This will be difficult, though, since the legal fraternity is still a bit rigid,” he stated.
Hamutenya-Jeremia is one of the LGBTQ leaders in the country, and is committed to protecting and promoting human rights in Namibia. Pastor Kronelius Tavali of the Key to Jesus Oshiyanja Church voiced his concerns, stating that they are unhappy with the decision, emphasising that the Bible does not support same-sex marriage. “We cannot change the creation of God, just because we want to impress men. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of such things,” he stressed.
“It pains me to hear that another man of God is trying to deceive people while he knows the Bible well”, Tavali expressed his distress.
He added that the announcement has sparked a religious debate within the local religious community, highlighting differing perspectives on the intersection of faith and evolving societal views.
Aurelia David from the Office of the Ombudsman said their office advocates for inclusion and non-discrimination across all sectors. “Our complaints mechanisms remain the same, whether the complaint is from the LGBTQ community or any other member of the public who feels their human rights are violated.
I reiterate, I cannot answer on the matter of church because I do not know what the blessing or recognition entails or would entail. Churches are institutions with their own rules and laws, and members of any given church or religion are usually privy to those rules,” she noted. David added that earlier this year, their staff members attended a one-week diversity and inclusion workshop in order to be capacitated with handling LGBTQ- related complaints with an open mind, and without any prejudices or biases.
“Thus far, there are no specific initiatives planned for awareness around LGBTQ matters. We have an ongoing general human rights awareness programme, where we create awareness on human rights in general, as well as educate the public on ways in which they can seek redress through our office,” she continued. New Era reached out to the CCN, but they declined to comment on the matter.
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