Pope and same-sex couples

A documentary is not a document of the Catholic Church that would change the teaching of this institution. It is not the first time that Pope Francis has spoken out about homosexuals and the legitimacy of their relationships, and those statements have always sparked debate. It was only after inhaling and deepening that it became clear that nothing scandalous had been said, or at least nothing new.

These two things should be kept in mind when reading the news about another speech by Pope Francis in Evgeny Afineevsky’s new film, Francesco. 2020 October 21 The film was screened for the first time at the Rome Film Festival and its creators will later receive the Kinéo Prize from the Italian Ministry of Culture in the Vatican Gardens.

“Homosexuals have the right to be in the family. They are children of God and they have the right to a family. No one can be rejected or unhappy about this. We should create a law on civil unions. In this way, they would be legally protected. “This excerpt from the film is quoted in the world and Lithuanian media. It is often added that for the first time this Pope speaks of legal unions of homosexuals. But this is not entirely true.

Here it is „National Catholic Reporter“ primena du interviu: 2014 In an Italian newspaper and in 2017. The book Politique et Societe (Politics and Society) by Dominique Wolton, published in France. In these interviews, when asked about same-sex marriages, the Pope clearly drew the line between marriage and a man, calling civil unions for same-sex couples and acknowledging that such legal regulation provides the protection necessary.

He also participated in the political debate on same-sex marriages and couples and became a cardinal in Buenos Aires. Pope’s biographer Austen Ivereigh, in his book The Great Reformer, mentions stories from close fellow cardinals about the events of 2010 in Argentina, who sought to legalize same-sex marriage. There were two reasons why Bergoglio supported civil unions. First, his apparent desire to protect the concept of marriage and the legal definition that marriage is only possible between a man and a woman. The Civil Union Law would guarantee the legal protection of homosexuals without identifying their unions with the marriage of a man and a woman. However, it would not make sense to say that to protect the greater good, that is, marriage, he made such a commitment.

We already know about Pope Francis’ love and care for the poorest, living on the fringes of society. We know how stubbornly he defends the unjustly accused and marginalized, intercedes for those whom society does not listen to, does not see. So in trying to understand the Pope, it is important to keep in mind the second reason, which seems to encourage and now advocate a civil union. This is the ministry of Francis. Austen Ivereigh writes: “Bergoglio knew many homosexuals and was a spiritual companion to many of them. He knew the stories of how families rejected them, which meant for them to live in constant fear of being clarified and treated.

Pope Francis likes to ask uncomfortable questions or start discussions with his spontaneous comments and thoughts. You will naturally want a more detailed and assertive explanation of these thoughts, indications of how to understand them in the context of familiar Church teaching and its already routine application. One wonders if the Pope tends to justify homosexual sex with this saying. No, they were not discussed on this or any other occasion. Did the Pope call same-sex unions a family? Based on this quote, we could not answer yes to this question. It is more likely that the Pope spoke of a family relationship from which homosexuals also come, their relationships with loved ones, a community that often experiences rejection, rejection solely on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Explanations would also be relevant when reading, for example, the 2003 Congregation for the Doctrine of the FaithComments on the project for the legal recognition of homosexual unions“. The rhetoric of the document is quite strict: “Respect for homosexuals can in no way dazzle by accepting homosexual conduct or legal recognition of homosexual unions” or “Opposing legal recognition of homosexual unions to all believers and, by their responsibilities, mainly to Catholic politicians. ” It is true that this document does not provide “any new elements of training”. It is intended to explain how Church teaching should be applied in a particular situation. Why is this important? Due to the application of the Church’s teaching, its interpretation in specific historical contexts may vary. Remember not so long ago Amended provision on the death penalty. The Church does not have a doctrine, teaching on the civil union or other ways to legitimize homosexual relationships. This is an area of ​​civil law. The Church can present its own reflections, reflections on civil law, but such reflections are not the same as the Church’s teaching on sacramental marriage.

However, I think I have reasonable doubts that we will get an explanation. Francis was silent when the cardinals asked him questions about the teaching of the Church called “Dubia.” It is less and less common for their speeches to be corrected or explained by spokespersons. The Pope leaves more and more freedom to interpret the Church’s teaching and apply it in specific situations to the bishops themselves. Let us remember the debate on the delivery of Communion to the divorced after the apostolic exhortation “Amoris laetitia”. In addition, in this case, the Pope is talking about civil law, so it is likely that it is up to them to find adequate safeguards for gay rights, measures to protect marriage and ways to compromise.