Same sex marriage an abomination to the society - Archbishop Sarpong

Accra, May 04, GNA – The Most Reverend Peter Akwasi Sarpong, Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, has said same sex marriage was an abomination that had entered the country and the church ought to continue its campaign against the spread of such marriages.

Archbishop Sarpong said the devils of political intimidation, ignorance, abortion, rape, violence, poverty and diseases were the wars that the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS) had fought over the past 50 years.

He made the pronouncement at the launch of the 50th anniversary of the NCS on Friday in Accra.

The anniversary launch was on the theme: “NCS @ 50 – The Church in Ghana in Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace”.

Archbishop Sarpong said the question of justice and peace forms part of the church's mission of promoting human life through education, health, and social welfare which alleviated poverty therefore the church had entered the same arena as the civil authority.

He said the human life was an indivisible unit that was entrusted to the church whose duty it was to care for human life through the administration of holy sacraments such as baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, Priesthood etc.

“The involvement of the church affects the obligation of the state where the church did not act in parallel lines with the state but rather as a partner acting on a complementary basis, assisting the state where the state fell short” he added.

He said “politicising the essential function of the church could only be detrimental to the state and the church must stand against political intimidation, bigotry and deceit”.

Archbishop Sarpong said the golden Jubilee of the NCS was meant for self-examination and stocktaking and the church needed to demonstrate their service through reconciliation, justice and peace to be able to move the country forward.

Archbishop Sarpong said without criticism, freedom yielded to totalitarianism, justice gave way to exploitation, charity receded into ruthlessness, and peace dissolves into rivalry and hostility.

Most Reverend Joseph Osei Bonsu, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) in his good will message, said the NCS was established in order to advance the work of evangelism more efficiently in the country.

He said over the past 50 years, the NCS had sought to promote both the spiritual and material well being of people in the performance of their work in areas such as pastoral care, health, education and communications.

Most Reverend Osei Bonsu said he was hopeful that the 50th anniversary would bring restoration of good relations to the church and the state as well as championing justice and peace where people's human rights would be respected.

He paid tribute to the founding fathers of the NCS for their pioneering work amid great difficulties and hardships.

The NCS established in 1960 is the executive arm of the Bishops Conference which deliberates on matters of concern to the churches and focuses more on education, socio-economic development and health care of the people.

GNA