CISA

ACCRA, JANUARY 20, 2026 (CISA) — The Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, C.S.Sp., has raised serious concerns about what he described as the growing influence of homosexuality and “gay culture” within Catholic seminaries in West Africa, warning that the trend poses a grave challenge to authentic priestly formation and fidelity to Church teaching.

Addressing rectors at the opening of the 12th meeting of the Rectors of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) on January 14, at St. Paul’s Catholic Seminary, Sowutuom, Archbishop Kwofie urged those responsible for priestly formation to exercise rigorous discernment at the point of admission and throughout the formative process. He cautioned that weaknesses at the entry level could have far-reaching consequences for seminary life and the future priesthood.

“I am going to talk to you about a phenomenon that is developing like a monster in seminaries,” the archbishop said, adding “I urge you to do everything possible to remove people with this orientation from our seminaries, because not only is it contrary to the priestly attitude, but it also makes celibacy unworthy of being lived. This is homosexuality and gay culture.”

According to a report by the RECOWA News Agency, the Ghanaian prelate, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans/C.S.Sp.), underscored that the priestly vocation demands a sound, holistic, and faithful formation process. He warned that the promotion or tolerance of what he termed “gay culture” within seminaries contradicts both the nature of priestly life and the doctrinal teaching of the Catholic Church.

Archbishop Kwofie emphasized that the Church’s position on homosexuality has remained consistent over time and is firmly rooted in the Magisterium. He recalled that authoritative Church teaching does not permit the admission to seminaries or Holy Orders of persons who practice homosexuality, present deeply rooted homosexual tendencies, or support gay culture.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other magisterial documents issued since the Second Vatican Council, the Church clearly distinguishes between homosexual acts and homosexual tendencies. While Sacred Scripture and Tradition describe homosexual acts as gravely sinful and intrinsically immoral, persons with homosexual tendencies are to be treated with respect, compassion, and sensitivity, and every form of unjust discrimination must be avoided.

However, he stressed that this pastoral approach does not alter the Church’s norms governing admission to seminaries and ordination.

In this context, Archbishop Kwofie cited the November 2005 Instruction of the Vatican Dicastery for Catholic Education, issued in collaboration with the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, on the criteria for discerning vocations of persons with homosexual tendencies. The instruction states that the Church “cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, exhibit deeply rooted homosexual tendencies or support the so-called ‘gay culture,’” noting that such situations seriously hinder the capacity to relate appropriately to men and women.

He recalled that the same document warned that “the negative consequences that can result from the ordination of persons with deeply rooted homosexual tendencies must not be neglected under any circumstances.” The instruction was promulgated on November 4, 2005, the memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, the patron saint of seminaries.

“These extracts show clearly that the norms regarding sexuality and gay culture in seminaries have not changed,” Archbishop Kwofie told participants, adding that the 2005 instruction was reaffirmed in December 2016 in The Gift of the Priestly Vocation (Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis), published by the Dicastery for the Clergy.

The RECOWA rectors’ meeting, which ran under the theme “Building on the rock: a solid and holistic formation,” brought together seminary rectors and formators from across West Africa to reflect on the challenges and priorities of priestly formation in the region. The conference concluded on January 17.

At the close of the meeting, Archbishop Kwofie commended the rectors and formators for their demanding apostolate and assured them of his support.

“My dear friends, as rectors in West Africa, you have the responsibility of forming future priests. It is an arduous task,” he said. “We are with you.”