A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE SOCIETAL PERCEPTION SURROUNDING POPE FRANCIS' ENDORSEMENT OF BLESSINGS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES: A CASE STUDY OF SACRED HEART PARISH, GWAGWALADA, ABUJA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study: While same-sex marriage was not initially a primary focus of the LGBT movement in the 1970s, it gained significant prominence in the early 2000s and became a central issue on the movement's agenda in the United States and several other developed countries. The movement advocating for same-sex marriage is a global phenomenon. The Netherlands became the first nation to legalise same-sex marriage in 2000. Since then, over a dozen countries in Western Europe, North America, and South America, as well as South Africa, have 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 recognised same-sex marriages that were performed in other states (Kahn, 1989).

Since the early 2000s, the push for same-sex marriage has been a central focus of the LGBT movement, although it has faced some opposition from activists within the community. A significant amount of momentum in the fight for same-sex marriage has been driven by individuals like Evan Wolfson. Wolfson played a crucial role in the Hawaii Baehr v. Lewin case and later established The Freedom to Marry Coalition in 2003, with the aim of advocating for the legalisation of same-sex marriage. The 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health marked a significant moment in the fight for same-sex marriage rights. This ruling granted same-sex couples in Massachusetts the right to marry, but it also triggered a backlash against same-sex marriage. As a result, a significant portion of resources within the LGBT movement were redirected towards the effort to legalise same-sex marriage. (Knight, 1994)

The majority of the movement's energy was dedicated to opposing antigay ballot measures aimed at prohibiting same-sex marriage. The American public has been voting on same-sex marriage through a series of ballot measures since 1998. According to APnews (2023), there were thirty ballot measures aimed at revising the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages. These measures were legislative-referred initiatives. Marriage bans have been widely approved by voters at the ballot box, with only two defeats recorded in Arizona (2006) and Minnesota (2012) (Stone, 2012). One of the most controversial ballot measures to date is California Proposition 8, which stands out as the only marriage ban that has successfully overturned legalised marriage. Proposition 8 was a response to a 2008 decision made by the California Supreme Court, which had legalised same-sex marriage. In the state of California, over 18,000 same-sex marriages were performed during the period between the California Supreme Court case and the campaign. The LGBT campaign and the Religious Right campaign, which aimed to combat Proposition 8, collectively raised more than $40 million dollars, surpassing previous campaign spending records. Following the passage of Proposition 8 in the November 2012 election, protests erupted nationwide, leading to the legal challenge of the marriage ban in the Supreme Court case known as Hollingsworth versus Perry. While ballot measures have proven to be an effective strategy for the Religious Right, the LGBT movement achieved a significant victory in the November 2012 election. During this election, voters in Minnesota rejected a marriage ban, while voters in Maryland and Washington affirmed same-sex marriage laws that had been recently passed by their legislatures. In addition, Maine voters approved a same-sex marriage initiative that had been put forth by LGBT organisers (Philip, 2023).

Marriage was not the sole objective. During this time period, numerous accomplishments were achieved by the LGBT movement. The Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas (2003) resulted in the overturning of sodomy laws in 14 US states. President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in October 2009. This act provides coverage for hate crime acts based on sexual orientation and gender identity. President Obama later repealed the ban on gay and lesbian service members, while transgender service members continue to be prohibited from serving in the US military.

Efforts to pass a federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act have been ongoing since the 1970s, but unfortunately, these attempts have been unsuccessful. Nevertheless, there has been a significant increase in the implementation of nondiscrimination laws at the local level. In 2007, more than half of the US population was protected by state, county, and/or city laws that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. This was a significant increase compared to 1990, when less than a third of the population enjoyed such legal protections. According to the New York Times (2023), an increasing number of state and city laws now provide protection for transgender individuals by explicitly including gender identity and expression. The local laws were passed as a result of increasing public support for LGBT rights, the effectiveness of local movement organisations, and the support provided by national organisations.

The LGBT movement has also been placing increasing emphasis on intersectional issues, including immigration reform and social security. The growth of transgender organising and media visibility was accompanied by the establishment of the National Centre for Transgender Equality in 2003, marking the first national transgender rights organisation.

Statement of research problem

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis has officially approved the practice of Catholic priests blessing same-sex couples. This decision represents a significant change in policy, as it seeks to foster inclusivity within the church while upholding its longstanding prohibition on gay marriage (CNN News, 2023).

Although the Vatican statement was seen as a positive development by some, as it was perceived as a move towards reducing discrimination within the Catholic Church, there were concerns raised by LGBTQ+ advocates. They cautioned that the statement reinforced the church's belief that same-sex couples are still considered inferior to heterosexual relationships (Punchng, 2023).

The document from the Vatican's doctrine office provides further details on a letter that Francis sent to two conservative cardinals, which was published in October. In the initial response, Francis proposed that these blessings could be provided in certain situations, as long as they were not mistaken for the marriage ceremony. According to Vatican News (2023), the new document reiterates and provides further details on the condition, emphasising that marriage is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. It emphasises that the blessings should not be associated with any particular Catholic celebration or religious service, and they should not be given during a civil union ceremony. Furthermore, the blessings cannot be performed using specific rituals or incorporate the attire and gestures typically associated with a wedding. However, it is stated that requests for blessings for same-sex couples should not be denied. According to Vatican News (2023), the provided definition of "blessing" in Scripture is comprehensive and inclusive. It emphasises that individuals who desire a profound connection with God, and who seek His love and mercy, should not be subjected to an unattainable moral standard in order to receive 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, potentially leading to a resolution of the internal religious dispute 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 confined to the perspectives of worshippers in Sacred Heart Parish, Gwagwalada, Abuja. The geographical extent of the topic mentioned provides specificity and accuracy. 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 worshippers in Sacred Heart Parish, Gwagwalada. 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 other Parish or diocese in Gwagwalada and potentially other states. In addition, this study specifically examined the approval of same-sex marriage blessings. While this narrow emphasis adds brevity to the study, it would have been beneficial to include an extensive assessment of scholarly viewpoints on gender-related perceptions to enhance the 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.