A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE NON-CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE REGARDING POPE FRANCIS' ENDORSEMENT OF BLESSINGS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES: A CASE STUDY OF UYO, AKWA-IBOM STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study: While same-sex marriage was not a primary objective of the LGBT movement throughout the 1970s, it rapidly became a focal point of the movement's agenda at the beginning of the 21st century, both in the United States and in numerous other developed countries. The advocacy for same-sex marriage is a component of a global movement. The Netherlands became the pioneering nation to legalise same-sex marriage in 2000. Subsequently, more than a dozen nations in Western Europe, North America, and South America, as well as South Africa, followed suit. As of the beginning of 2013, same-sex marriage had been legalised in nine states and the District of Columbia in the United States. Additionally, four more states acknowledged same-sex weddings that were conducted in other jurisdictions (Kahn, 1989).

Despite facing opposition from certain activists within the LGBT movement, the advocacy for same-sex marriage has been a primary focus of the LGBT movement's agenda since the beginning of the 21st century. Part of this progress has been driven by individuals such as Evan Wolfson, who had a role in the Hawaii Baehr v. Lewin case and subsequently established The Freedom to Marry Coalition in 2003 to actively support the legalisation of same-sex marriage. The 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, which granted same-sex couples in Massachusetts the right to marry, initiated a negative reaction against same-sex marriage. This reaction resulted in a significant allocation of resources from the LGBT movement towards the legalisation of same-sex marriage (Knight, 1994).

The majority of this kinetic energy was dedicated to opposing antigay ballot initiatives aimed at prohibiting same-sex marriage. The American public has participated in a succession of ballot measures around the country since 1998 to vote on the issue of same-sex marriage. Out of the total number of ballot measures, thirty were legislative-referred initiatives aimed at amending the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages (APnews, 2023). These marriage bans have been approved by a large majority of voters in elections, with only two instances of defeat in Arizona (2006) and Minnesota (2012) (Stone, 2012). California Proposition 8 has been the most controversial ballot measure thus far, as it is the only one that has invalidated legalised marriage by imposing a ban on it. Proposition 8 was a response to the California Supreme Court's 2008 ruling that legalised same-sex marriage. During the period encompassing the California Supreme Court case and the campaign, a total of over 18,000 marriages involving individuals of the same sex were solemnised in the state of California. The LGBT campaign and the Religious Right campaign against Proposition 8 collectively amassed more than $40 million, surpassing previous campaign spending records. Following the approval of Proposition 8 in the November 2012 election, widespread protests erupted nationwide, and the ban on marriage was challenged in the Supreme Court case Hollingsworth versus Perry. While the Religious Right has found success with these ballot measures, the LGBT movement achieved a series of victories in the November 2012 election. Voters in Minnesota rejected a marriage ban, while voters in Maryland and Washington affirmed same-sex marriage laws that had been recently enacted by their legislatures. Maine voters approved a same-sex marriage initiative put forth by LGBT organisers (Philip, 2023).

Marriage was not the sole objective. Numerous other achievements were made by the LGBT movement during this specific period. As an illustration, the Supreme Court case Lawrence versus Texas (2003) invalidated sodomy laws in 14 US states. In October 2009, President Barack Obama enacted the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which extended legal protection against hate crimes to include acts motivated by both sexual orientation and gender identity. Subsequently, President Obama revoked the prohibition on gay and lesbian individuals serving in the military, while maintaining the exclusion of transgender individuals from the US military.

There were unsuccessful attempts to pass a federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which has been ongoing since the 1970s. However, there was a dramatic growth in nondiscrimination laws at the local level. As of 2007, over half of the US population was covered by a state, county, and/or city law against discrimination based on sexual orientation, whereas in 1990, less than a third of the population was covered by such laws. An increasing number of state and city laws also included gender identity and expression, which offers more protection for transgender individuals (New York Times, 2023). The passage of these local laws was a consequence of growing support in public opinion for LGBT rights, strength in local movement organizations, and assistance by national organizations.

The LGBT movement also increasingly focused attention on intersectional issues, such as immigration reform and social security. Transgender organizing and media visibility grew, along with the first national transgender rights organization, the National Center for Transgender Equality, which was established in 2003.

Statement of research problem

The Vatican stated on Monday that Pope Francis has officially sanctioned the practice of Catholic priests bestowing blessings upon same-sex couples. This is a significant departure from previous policy, as the intention is to foster a more inclusive environment inside the church, while still upholding the church's steadfast prohibition of homosexual marriage (CNN News, 2023).

Although the Vatican declaration was praised by certain individuals as a move towards dismantling discrimination within the Catholic Church, some LGBTQ+ supporters cautioned that it emphasised the church's belief that same-sex marriages are still considered inferior to heterosexual relationships (Punchng, 2023).

The document from the Vatican's theology office provides further details on a letter that Francis gave to two conservative cardinals, which was publicly released in October. Francis proposed that these blessings could be provided in certain situations, as long as they were not mistaken for the marriage ceremony. The latest statement reiterates this need and provides further details, confirming that marriage is a permanent alliance between a male and a female (Vatican News, 2023). Furthermore, it emphasises that the blessings in question should not be associated with any particular Catholic celebration or religious ritual, and should not be granted simultaneously with a civil union ceremony. In addition, the blessings are not permitted to utilise prescribed procedures or incorporate the attire and movements associated with a wedding ceremony. However, it stipulates that petitions for such blessings for same-sex couples must not be refused. The Vatican News publication in 2023 presents a comprehensive and inclusive interpretation of the concept of "blessing" in religious texts. It emphasises that those who desire a profound connection with God and seek His love and mercy need not be subjected to an unattainable moral criterion in order to obtain these blessings.

Objectives of the study

The primary goal of this study is to:

1. Assess public perception of Pope Francis blessing approval for same-sex.

2. To find out if Pope Francis blessing approval for same-sex would lead to a decline in Catholic membership.

Research questions

1. How do the public perceive Pope Francis blessing approval for same-sex?

2. How do Pope Francis blessing approval for same-sex affect Catholic membership?

Research hypothesis

H1: There is a negative public perception of Pope Francis blessing approval for same-sex.

H1a: There is a positive public perception of Pope Francis blessing approval for same-sex.

H2n: There is no decline Catholic membership owing to Pope Francis blessing approval for same-sex affect.

H2a: There is a decline Catholic membership owing to Pope Francis blessing approval for same-sex affect.

Significance of the study

The results of this study will uncover the public's perspective regarding Pope Francis' endorsement of same-sex blessings inside the Catholic community. This will help address the internal religious disagreement on matters of morality. This study will also demonstrate the magnitude of public perspective on religion and morals.

Scope of the study

The scope of this study is restricted to the viewpoints of individuals residing in Lagos state, Nigeria. The geographical extent of this discussion enhances the accuracy of the topic being addressed. Furthermore, this study is restricted to examining Pope Francis' endorsement of same-sex marriage. Although there is considerable debate surrounding gender issues, this study primarily focuses on the approval of same-sex blessings.

Limitations of the study

The scope of this study is restricted to the data collected from individuals residing in Lagos state, Nigeria. Although the conclusions of this study are still valid, there is a possibility of significantly improving the results by expanding the scope to include respondents from more local government areas in Lagos state and potentially other states. In addition, this study specifically examined the approval of same-sex marriage blessings. While this narrow focus adds brevity to the study, it would have been beneficial to include a comprehensive examination of scholarly viewpoints on gender-related perceptions, which would have enriched the existing literature. Nevertheless, despite these limitations, the outcomes of this investigation were not compromised. Instead, these gaps serve as opportunities for additional research.

Operational definition of terms

Same-sex: Partners of the same sex and/or gender identity. For example, a marriage between two men or two women.

Gender: the male sex or the female sex, especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones, or one of a range of other identities that do not correspond to established ideas of male and female.

Perception: the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.

Couple: two people who are married or otherwise closely associated romantically or sexually.