A popular Catholic Priest, Fr Kelvin Ugwu, has stepped forward to clear the air following a social media storm over a viral wedding involving a Nigerian man and his male partner.
Social media went into a frenzy over the weekend after photos surfaced of a Nigerian man, Innocent Okechukwu, and his white partner, Greg, exchanging vows.
Dressed in traditional Igbo attire, the couple was seen in a church setting with a priest officiating the ceremony.
Because of the religious setting, many Nigerians quickly assumed the wedding took place in a Catholic Church. However, Fr Kelvin Ugwu, a well-known Catholic Priest, has issued a detailed clarification to set the record straight.
Fr Ugwu stated clearly that the ceremony did not happen in a Catholic parish. Instead, the wedding was held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Downers Grove, Illinois, USA.
He explained that the Episcopal Church is part of the global Anglican Communion, which is a different denomination entirely from the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Priest further identified the groom, Innocent, as a talented composer and pianist. While Innocent did attend a Catholic minor seminary during his secondary school days, Fr Ugwu noted that he never proceeded to the major seminary to become a priest.
To provide further clarity, the cleric identified the officiating minister as Rev. Gregg Morris. He pointed out that while the Episcopal Church allows its clergy to perform same-sex marriages, the Catholic Church maintains a very different stance.
Fr Ugwu emphasized that the Catholic Church does not recognize or permit same-sex unions. He went as far as saying that he would leave the priesthood if the Catholic Church ever changed its doctrine to allow such ceremonies.
By sharing these facts, the Catholic Priest hopes to end the confusion and misinformation currently circulating online regarding the couple’s religious affiliation.
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