About 500,000 Catholics sign petition against Pope Francis's support on gay union

yinka ogunlami

August 17, 2015 4:51 PM

“When the Pope speaks, Catholics from all parts of the world listen. He will make a huge impact, we are suffering from what the Pope described as ideological colonisation. Little by little, our customs and traditions are being penetrated by first world countries.” Cruz said.

Earlier this month, Pope Francis said the Church had to provide a better welcome for those who have established a new relationship after the failure of a marriage.

This statement has raised different controversies, the Filial Appeal on the Future of the Family a group which describes itself as an alliance of lay Catholics and pro-Life organisations has emerged with the backing of more than 100 senior clerics, including many bishops from the developing world and American cardinal Raymond Burke, an arch-conservative who has been sidelined within the Vatican hierarchy since Francis was elected two years ago.

According to the Appeal’s website,

"About half a million catholics had, by Thursday, signed the petition, urging Pope Francis to condemn same sex unions as unnatural and rule out allowing divorced believers who remarry to receive communion, organisers claim.

The petition claims that a first synod held last year had caused, widespread confusion arising from the possibility that a breach has been opened within the Church that would accept adultery - by permitting divorced and then civilly remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion - and would virtually accept even homosexual unions when such practices are categorically condemned as being contrary to divine and natural law.”

Oscar Cruz, a retired archbishop who is one of the country’s best-known Church figures, told Appeal's he supported the petition’s goal and urged Francis not to be influenced by the developed world’s agenda.

“When the Pope speaks, Catholics from all parts of the world listen. He will make a huge impact, we are suffering from what the Pope described as ideological colonisation. Little by little, our customs and traditions are being penetrated by first world countries.” Cruz said.

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