In response to recent attacks on the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, has called for intensified prayers and support for the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill by the President of the Republic.
Speaking during his reflection at a Eucharistic adoration marking the first day of the 10th Congress and Golden Jubilee of the National Sacred Heart of Jesus Enthronement Centre, Bishop Agyenta expressed concern over direct attacks on the Church, especially from the LGBTQ+ community. He lamented, “It was very clear that the group behind this offensive act against Christians, especially Catholics, was the LGBTQ+ community.”
Bishop Agyenta revealed that the LGBTQ+ group’s message was clear: “First, they declared that their number one enemy is the Catholic Church, which vehemently opposes homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Secondly, the group chose to strike where it hurts the Catholic Church most — the most sacred ritual that we hold so dearly, namely the Eucharistic Celebration.”
In response to these provocations, the Bishop urged Catholics to take three important steps. “First of all, as Catholics, we need to do what we do best: PRAY for those who attack us, those who offend us, and those who mock our faith and practices.” He continued by stressing the need for reparation, quoting St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, “to console Jesus for the sins and ingratitude of humanity” through prayers and penance.
Bishop Agyenta concluded by encouraging the faithful to rally behind the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and the Ghanaian Family Values Bill.
“Finally, as Ghanaian Catholics, knowing now that the LGBTQ+ community holds the Catholic Church as their number one enemy, we need to intensify our prayers and support for the assent to the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill by the President of the Republic,” he stated.
The Bishop added, “By doing so, we are not only protecting our sacred rituals from abuse and attack by external forces but also safeguarding the sanctity of our families and securing the future of our children.”
He ended his reflection by calling for personal imitation of Christ’s self-gift to humanity through acts of love and sacrifice.
