Episcopal Conference of Benin on homosexuality : “We must return to God…”

In a statement dated 14 December 2023 and entitled “Homosexuality : From worries to responsibility », the Episcopal Conference of Benin (CEB) draws the attention of each actor in society to the questions raised by this subject. She also raised the issue of sexuality while making recommendations.

The bishops of Benin while thanking the Government “for its speech on the subject in the National Assembly on 30 last november. However, they make it known that the announcement that “homosexuality is at odds with our cultural values ​​and that it is not introduced into the Beninese education system”, does not “dispel some observations on the ground”. Reason why, the Episcopal Conference of Benin has decided to attract “the attention of the political authorities, religious leaders and all educational stakeholders, on the responsibilities that are ours now in the face of questions raised by homosexuality”.

“We must return to God, have the fear of God to prevent our people, the ravages and serious harms of homosexuality. Jesus Christ, The one in whom, by whom and for whom, everything was created (…) tells us : “The Creator, at the beginning, made them male and female and (…) to say : Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother and cling to his wife. ; and the two will be one flesh (Mt 19,4c-5 ; cf Gn 1, 27 ; 5, 2 ; 2, 24) », they explained.

According to the Episcopal Conference of Benin, “no development program can authorize a people respectful of human life to opt for laws which, on the one hand deny sexual difference, the harmonious relationship between demographic growth and economic development, and on the other, sacrifice the lives of unborn children, on the hotel of deadly ideologies and the silver divinity ». “Homosexuality is contrary to the will of God since the creation of the world” insist the bishops.

Recommendations

The Episcopal Conference of Benin (CEB), reports 24H in Benin, recommends “to the Government that in terms of teaching on sexuality and family planning in Benin, we deal with “moral and sexual education “rather than ” sexual and reproductive health “; from “responsible fatherhood and motherhood “rather than the” responsible parenting ” and natural methods of birth control rather than artificial means that promote sexual permissiveness”.

Thus, the CEB invites “Parliamentarians” to “examine all questions relating to the relationship between demography and development, to homosexual theories and practices disseminated outside of school, in ICT and major mass media ».

To social services, to women and men of good will, she asked them to “respond to the challenges of the moral education of young people in general and of girls in particular by making them acquire all the intellectual resources, moral and social principles necessary for their well-being in the search for a solution to the thorny problem of early pregnancies in schools and unwanted pregnancies”. However, she urges educators, decision-makers and leaders of the Nation to “resist pressure from international organizations whose conditionalities subject people to authoritarian demographic policies and young people to LGBTQ practices”.

To finish, the Catholic Church of Benin calls for an increase in “welcome initiatives, listening and supporting LGBTQ brothers and sisters as human persons”.

Patrice ADJAHO