Pope Francis supports civil unions for same-sex couples [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Pope Francis spoke about creating a civil union law for gay couples saying homosexuals have a right to a family in a documentary that aired in Rome on Wednesday.   
• His statements are viewed as somewhat veering from Catholic teachings on homosexual acts and behavior. 
• However, Prof. Bruce Morrill, the head of Roman Catholic Studies in Nashville, clarified the pope’s comments saying no official policies are being changed, rather, he is just saying that homosexuals should be treated with respect.

Pope Francis sought for the passage of civil union laws for same-sex couples in a documentary about his life that aired in Rome on Wednesday, deviating from the position prescribed by the Vatican. 

In the documentary “Francesco” which portrays Francis as the great connector over some of the world’s most pressing issues, the pontiff said: “Homosexuals have a right to be part of the family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family.” He added saying that a civil union law should be created for them to be legally covered. 

According to Prof. Bruce Morrill, the Chair in Roman Catholic Studies at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Pope Francis’s remarks didn’t come as a surprise since he has made individual statements over his papacy. 

“What this statement doesn’t do is change any official policies, but in a very patriarchal way he is saying we should be kind and compassionate,” Morillo told NBC News by telephone, adding that one of Francis’ characteristics was “that he likes to speak and act on the principle of mercy.” 

However, Morillo also noted that the obvious issue here is the homosexual activities involved which the church explicitly teaches against. 

Although Catholic doctrines maintain that gays must be treated with dignity and respect, “it cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behavior or to legal recognition of homosexual unions,” according to a 2003 document from the Vatican’s doctrine office.

Because in doing so, the Vatican would not only tolerate “deviant behavior” but create parity to marriage which the church asserts as an indissoluble union between man and woman. 

Francis’ public statements were warmly received by the LGBTQ media advocacy organization GLAAD’s CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. 

“Pope Francis’ public approval is a fundamental step forward at a time when LGBTQ acceptance around the world and across religions is expanding and rightfully becoming the norm.” 

However, Providence, Rhode Island’s bishop Thomas Tobin immediately issued a statement of clarification saying, “The pope’s statement clearly contradicts what has been the long-standing teaching of the church about same-sex unions,” and adding that acceptance of such immoral relationships cannot be endorsed by the church. 

The documentary, which is slated to premiere at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival on Oct. 24-31, also highlights Francis’ misjudgment of the scale and severity of the church’s sexual abuse issues which he later publicly apologized for.

Source: NBC News