Pope blames 'ugly conclusions' for African Catholic freakout over same-sex blessings

The Daily Beast reported that the Pope's latest move is "triggering widespread backlash" among the African leadership in the church.

While the Americas may be the highest population for the Catholic church, the world's fastest-growing area is in Africa, a 2022 Vatican report says. But that could change after Pope Francis said that priests could bless same-sex unions.

There are 64 countries that criminalize homosexuality, and nearly half of those (31) are Africa, the BBC reported last year.

The move was a significant shift for the Catholic church, which has fought against such blessings in a world quickly changing to support marriage equality. In the U.S., for example, a 2023 Gallup tracking poll showed 71 percent support for same-sex couples.

While the Catholic church will continue to ban marriages, adding a "blessing" opens them up to be more inclusive and stem the number of Americans quickly abandoning church membership.

"About 40 million Americans have left churches and other religious institutions in the last 25 years," WBUR said last week as part of a report on the "de-churching of America.

"Africa is a continent deeply rooted in cultural and religious traditions with strong conservative views," the Daily Beast explained. "Sexual orientations and gender identities are controversial topics, although historically existing in many pre-colonial African societies, contemporary attitudes towards homosexuality and LGBTQ+ individuals in Africa are often hostile and bigoted."

Nearly one-quarter of the world's Catholics, 265 million, live in Africa, and many live in countries where homosexuality is condemned and criminalized, the report said.

The church hasn't changed its beliefs, however. It still believes homosexuality is a sin. It still believes marriage is between one man and one woman.

So, Catholics in Africa are being faced with whether to modernize or hold tight to traditions, even those started by its colonizers.

“As a Christian, I’m highly disappointed in the pope. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the news,” the Daily Beast quoted a man named Frank from Ghana. “He just embarrassed the Catholic Church in front of the whole world.”

Judith from Nigeria gave the reporters a similar comment: “The Catholic Church has been corrupted. Homosexuality is an abomination and we Africans will not participate in such sacrilege."

"Religion—being the major influence on art, culture, and philosophy throughout the entire continent—has shaped the moral fabric of communities for generations," the report explained. "Pope Francis’ stance on same-sex marriages directly challenges these deeply rooted norms, triggering a visceral reaction from those who see it as a departure from established doctrines."

Still, the Pope is holding true to his decision. The Beast quoted a Sunday interview he did with Reuters blaming many in the church for jumping to "ugly conclusions" out of igorance.

“Sometimes decisions are not accepted, but in most cases when decisions are not accepted, it is because they are not understood,” Francis said. “The danger is that if I don’t like something and I put it (the opposition) in my heart, I become a resistance [sic] and jump to ugly conclusions.”

Read the full report at the Daily Beast here.