Pope Francis has called for the creation of civil union laws that would help same-sex couples create families as “children of God,” challenging a previous conclusion by the Catholic Church that endorsing such unions would be an “approval of deviant behavior.”
“Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it,” Francis said in a documentary, called “Francesco,” that premiered Wednesday in Rome, the Catholic News Agency reported.
“What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered. I stood up for that,” Francis, whose comments came as he reflected on pastoral care for those who identify as LGBT, added.
The documentary by Oscar-nominated Director Evgeny Afineevsky, which highlights the life and ministry of Pope Francis, is set to make its North American premiere on Sunday.
In 2003, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under the leadership of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and at the direction of Pope John Paul II made it clear that same-sex civil unions cannot be supported by the church.
“The Church teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behavior or to legal recognition of homosexual unions. The common good requires that laws recognize, promote and protect marriage as the basis of the family, the primary unit of society,” the document said.
“Legal recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same level as marriage would mean not only the approval of deviant behavior, with the consequence of making it a model in present-day society, but would also obscure basic values which belong to the common inheritance of humanity. The Church cannot fail to defend these values, for the good of men and women and for the good of society itself,” it concluded.
Today, the Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest LGBT civil rights organization, praised Pope Francis for shifting Catholic theology to be more accepting of the LGBT community.
“Today, Pope Francis took a significant step for inclusion and acceptance in the Catholic Church by embracing unions for same-sex couples and affirming that LGBTQ Catholics are a part of their religious family,” HRC President Alphonso David said in a statement.
James Martin, a Jesuit priest who also serves as editor at large of America Magazine, said in a statement on Twitter that Pope Francis’ comments are “a major step” for the Catholic Church.
“It is in keeping with his pastoral approach to LGBT people, including LGBT Catholics, and sends a strong signal to countries where the church has opposed such laws,” Martin wrote.
Retired Democratic politician Howard Dean also celebrated Francis’ comments on Twitter, noting: “I knew I liked this Pope. This took a lot of courage and I am sure there are political knives out for him in the Vatican. This is a true act of Christian compassion and an example for all Christians not just Catholics.”
"Pope Francis' words will highlight the inclusive, accepting essence of Christianity that so many people care about," said Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, a fellow with the faith initiative at the liberal Center for American Progress think tank.
"The way conservative Christians … distort this message of love and [social] justice that Jesus proclaimed" can have an alienating effect," he said.
Carolyn Woo, former president of Catholic Relief Services and a co-chair of Catholics for Biden, said Francis' emphasis on the "dignity of people," without any conditions, aligns well with values Democrats espouse.
"Overall the Democratic platform is: We've got to help people where they are at. We've got to protect their rights, we've got to help them flourish," she said, emphasizing the importance of Catholics using "prudential judgment in how we honor life."
Conservative Catholics saw the comments as a betrayal of Scripture.
Writer Maike Hickson who has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church urged Pope Francis to immediately recant the statements or risk being seen as a heretic.
“Any words of a pope spoken in public do have a terrible weight. And they reveal his attitude toward Church doctrine, irreversible doctrine, doctrine that comes straight out of Holy Scripture. He must make an immediate recantation or will be under suspicion that he is a heretic,” Hickson noted on Twitter.
This Pope is regarding by many as antichrist in his beliefs and actions. You cannot reject the words of Christ in the Bible and say you are speaking for Christ at the same time. That makes you a deceiver and false prophet and this Pope is both.
May God shake up many Catholics who are trusting in the church, but have never repented of their own sins and sought God for his mercy. May they renew their discovery of objective truth in the Bible, realizing that confession is NOT repentance, and come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
Repentance is a work of God's grace leading a man or women away from sin and lies to the truth, including the truth that you are a lost and undone sinner who cannot save himself. Pray for many honest-hearted Catholics who will “Come out of her” (Revelation 18:4).
Dear God be with them and us as we stand for Your truth together. And please come back soon.
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“Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD—Your salvation according to Your word. So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word” (Psalms 119:41—42).