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African Catholic bishops reject Vatican's same-sex blessings

Pope Francis meets Roman Catholic bishops in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Feb. 3, 2023. [Reuters]

The Roman Catholic bishops of Africa and Madagascar on Thursday issued a statement refusing to follow Pope Francis' declaration permitting priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples.

Signed by Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo on behalf of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, or SECAM, the statement said such unions were "contrary to the will of God."

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