“The trivialization of divorce and the politicization of the homosexuality question are threatening our families and our states,” priests say in their concluding motion, picking up on the points Fr. Meissa Guèye made in his opening speech. He denounced an “individualistic utilitarianism and a hedonistic romanticism that mostly value the right to pleasure, the unpredictability of feelings and libertarian liberalism.”
More and more young African couples are choosing to live together without considering marriage, least of all, children,” Fr. Guèye said with a tone of disagreement. He pointed out that marriage is no longer the foundation of the family; children are. “This poses a number of problems. How can a couple fulfill their responsibilities as parents without prior marital commitment?”
At the meeting in Popenguine – home to a popular Senegalese Marian sanctuary facing the Atlantic Ocean – bishops addressed all thorny issues regarding today’s families in Africa and elsewhere: the indissolubility of marriage, single-parent couples, cohabitation, polygamy and interreligious marriages. In their discussions, bishops also covered poverty, the cause of many family crises, the start of the new school year, problems linked to the rainy season and the Ebola virus threat.
The Assembly expressed its support for “families that are built on marriage, the intimate and complementary union between a man and a woman,” whilst also taking into account the traditions of different ethnic groups. However, they still rejected polygamy and same-sex parent families: “Offering same-sex couples the possibility to adopt children or allowing them to raise children through assisted reproduction methods involves discrimination against children who have the right to have both a male and female figure present during their upbringing.”
Christians represent only 5% of Senegal’s total population, while Muslims account for 94%. Fr. Joseph Maissa Guèye recalled that “our country is often mentioned as a positive example of peaceful coexistence among religions. Dialogue would help foster real solidarity on family-related issues, as well as a better understanding of mixed marriages. We know families who have managed to live in mutual respect, but in many mixed marriages, the Catholic spouse has been asked to forsake their religion. We need to prepare for such marriages very carefully, without concealing the real difficulties that may crop up.”
“Trusting in the wisdom of our African cultures but, at the same time, aware of their limitations with regard to God’s plan, we call on all states, international organizations and all interested parties to foster respect for the rights of the family,” the concluding motion reads. Senegal’s clergy is now ready to listen to what the Synod on the Family – held in the Vatican between 5 and 19 of October – has to say.
