AN ANALYSIS OF THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF POPE FRANCIS' BLESSINGS REGARDING THE ACCEPTANCE OF SAME-SEX COUPLES: A CASE STUDY OF ALIMOSHO, LAGOS STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study: The focus of the LGBT movement in the 1970s did not primarily revolve around advocating for same-sex marriage. However, as the new century began, same-sex marriage rapidly became a prominent issue on the agenda of the movement, gaining significant attention and support in the United States and numerous other developed countries. The advocacy for same-sex marriage is a significant component of a global movement. The Netherlands became the first country 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 also legalised same-sex marriage. According to Kahn (1989), 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 marriages that were conducted in other states.

The issue of same-sex marriage has been a significant focus within the LGBT movement since the early 2000s, although it has faced opposition from certain activists within the community. A significant factor contributing to the progress in this movement can be attributed to individuals such as Evan Wolfson. Wolfson played a key role in the Hawaii Baehr v. Lewin case and subsequently established The Freedom to Marry Coalition in 2003, with the aim of promoting 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 the right to marry in Massachusetts, sparked a backlash against same-sex marriage. This backlash resulted in a significant allocation of resources from the LGBT movement towards the legalisation of same-sex marriage (Knight, 1994).

A significant portion of the movement's energy was dedicated to opposing antigay ballot measures aimed at prohibiting same-sex marriage. The American public has participated in a series of ballot measures since 1998 to vote on the issue of same-sex marriage. According to APnews (2023), a significant number of the ballot measures, specifically thirty, were legislative-referred initiatives aimed at amending the state constitution in order to prohibit same-sex marriages. The marriage bans have been widely supported by voters, with only two instances of defeat in Arizona (2006) and Minnesota (2012) (Stone, 2012). California Proposition 8 has emerged as a highly controversial ballot measure, as it is the only marriage ban that has successfully overturned legalised marriage. Proposition 8 was introduced as a response to the 2008 decision made by the California Supreme Court, which legalised same-sex marriage. The number of same-sex marriages conducted in California exceeded 18,000 as a result of both the California Supreme Court case and the campaign. The campaign to oppose Proposition 8, led by the LGBT community, and the campaign by the Religious Right, both achieved remarkable success by raising more than $40 million dollars. This significant amount of funding broke previous records for campaign spending. The passage of Proposition 8 in the November 2012 election sparked nationwide protests and led to a legal challenge in the Supreme Court known as Hollingsworth versus Perry, which sought to contest the marriage ban. The ballot measures implemented by the Religious Right have proven to be effective. However, the LGBT movement achieved significant victories during 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. According to Philip (2023), same-sex marriage in Maine was approved by voters through an initiative led by LGBT organisers.

The objective of marriage was not limited to a single goal. Several significant achievements were made by the LGBT movement during this particular time period. The Supreme Court case Lawrence versus Texas (2003) resulted in the overturning of sodomy laws in 14 US states. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed by President Barack Obama in October 2009. This act extends protection against hate crimes to include acts based on sexual orientation and gender identity. President Obama repealed the ban on gay and lesbian service members, while noting that transgender service members remain prohibited from serving in the US military.

The federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act has faced challenges in its passage, despite efforts that have spanned several decades. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that there was a significant increase in the number of nondiscrimination laws enacted at the local level. In 2007, a significant milestone was reached in the United States as more than half of the population was protected by laws at the state, county, and/or city level that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. This marked a substantial increase compared to 1990, when less than one-third of the population enjoyed similar legal protections. According to the New York Times (2023), there has been a notable rise in the inclusion of gender identity and expression in state and city laws. This development aims to provide enhanced protection for transgender individuals. The passage of these local laws can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing support for LGBT rights in public opinion, the effectiveness of local movement organisations, and the support provided by national organisations.

The LGBT movement has been placing a growing 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

According to a recent announcement by the Vatican, Pope Francis has given formal approval for Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples. This decision represents a significant change in policy, as it seeks to promote inclusivity within the church while upholding the existing prohibition on gay marriage.

The Vatican statement, which was seen as a positive development by some, has also raised concerns among LGBTQ+ advocates who believe it reinforces the church's belief that same-sex couples are not equal to heterosexual couples (Punchng, 2023).

The document provided by the Vatican's doctrine office offers further details on a letter sent by Francis to two conservative cardinals, which was made public in October. In the initial response, Francis proposed the idea that blessings could potentially be provided in certain situations, as long as they were not mistaken for the formal ceremony of marriage. According to Vatican News (2023), the new document emphasises and provides further details on the condition that marriage is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. The statement emphasises the importance of blessings not being associated with a particular Catholic celebration or religious service. It also highlights the need for these blessings to be separate from civil union ceremonies. In addition, it is important to note that blessings cannot be performed using specific rituals or incorporate traditional wedding attire and gestures. According to the statement, it is emphasised that requests for blessings for same-sex couples should not be refused. According to Vatican News (2023), the provided analysis presents a comprehensive and inclusive interpretation of the concept of "blessing" as depicted in Scripture. It emphasises the importance of individuals who aspire to establish a profound connection with God and yearn for His affection and compassion, asserting that they should not be subjected to an unattainable moral benchmark in order to attain 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

This study aims to analyse the public's perception of Pope Francis' approval of same-sex blessings and its potential impact on Catholic membership. Additionally, it seeks to understand the role of religion and morality in shaping public opinion. 

Scope of the study

The study's findings are constrained to the perspectives of individuals residing in Lagos state, Nigeria. The geographical scope of the problem being discussed provides a level of precision. Additionally, it should be noted that this study focuses solely on the approval of same-sex marriage by Pope Francis, thus presenting certain limitations. The study primarily focuses on the approval of same-sex blessings, amidst the numerous gender controversies.

Limitations of the study

The scope of this study is restricted to the data collected from participants residing in Lagos state, Nigeria. The validity of the findings in this study could be enhanced by expanding the scope to include respondents from additional local government areas in Lagos state and potentially other states as well. In addition, the study specifically examined the approval of same-sex marriage blessings. While this narrow focus adds clarity to the study, it could have been beneficial to include an analysis of scholarly opinions on gender-related perceptions, which would have expanded the existing literature. However, despite these limitations, the results of this study were not affected. On the contrary, these gaps present 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.