Catholics in Africa Urged to Uphold Traditional Marriage, Shun “Cultural Experimentation” on Family
By Agnes Aineah
Theologians leading the ongoing weekly synodal conversations have urged Catholics in Africa to uphold the sacredness of marriage, and to say no to any ideologies that may distort the image of the family institution.
In a concept note shared with ACI Africa ahead of the 12th session of the conversations scheduled to take place on Friday, August 23, members of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) and the Conference of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar (COMSAM) challenge Church leaders on the continent to deepen the understanding of the beauty of marriage and the traditional African family.
“African Catholic bishops, theologians, pastoral agents, families, and lay associations must work hard in deepening an understanding and appreciation of the mystery, sacredness, value, and beauty of marriage and family life as a revealed truth of faith and an absolute value in African cultures,” the theologians say in the concept note.
They add, “The value of the family and God’s eternal plan for the family as the basis of human ecology should not be allowed by African Catholics to be supplanted or distorted through social and cultural experimentation and secular ideologies, especially those coming from within the Church today.”
The 12th African Palaver has been organized on the theme of “Theological criteria and synodal methodologies as a basis for shared discernment of controversial doctrinal, pastoral and ethical issues.”
Organizers say the session would “courageously address some of the contested moral issues that came up in the last two years since the synodal conversation began in Africa.”
In their concept note, the theologians recall the seminar of delegates to represent the Church in Africa at the 2-29 October 2024 session of the Synod on Synodality in Rome that took place in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, earlier in the year where there was a general agreement that Catholic Bishops in Africa give clarity to the faithful of Africa on contested questions.
“There was also a consensus among the Bishops and the other delegates that polygamy should not be framed as an African problem because there are other cultures outside Africa who embrace some form of polygamy or successive polygamy,” they say.
However, the theologians add, “there is the need to strengthen families in Africa. This requires a deepening of the foundations of marriage, sexual morality, and human rights in the faith formation of young people in Africa and in the catechesis for young couples.”
Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea of Cameroon’s Bamenda Catholic Archdiocese is expected to give the theme’s allocution, focusing on why Africa should speak with a clear voice on these matters not only at the Synod on Synodality but beyond.
Bishop George Bizimana of the Catholic Diocese of Ngozi in Burundi will answer the question why Catholics in Africa should uphold the traditional marriage and why the controversial document Fiducia Supplicans that was issued by Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith troubled many Catholics on the world’s second-largest and second-most populous continent.
Another speaker, Sr. Nkechi Iwuoha is to explore the need for formation of young people in Africa on sexual ethics for them to resist the peer pressure they may face from their fellow young people.
Finally, Dr. Chancel Likouka and Fr. Emmanuel Konvolbo who are working with young people in Africa are to share with the August 23 palaver participants what they are hearing from young people on contested issues about marriage and family, and the best practices that can be adopted in faith formation of young Africans.
Nairobi, 21 August, 2024 / 11:00 pm (ACI Africa).
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