“They’re children of God and have a right to a family,” the pope said. “Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it.”
In a new documentary Pope Francis calls for same-sex civil union laws.
The film chronicles the approach of Pope Francis to pressing social issues, and to pastoral ministry among those who live, in the words of the pontiff, “on the existential peripheries.”
Featuring interviews with Vatican figures including Cardinal Luis Tagle and other collaborators of the pope, “Francesco” looks at the pope’s advocacy for migrants and refugees, the poor, his work on the issue of clerical sexual abuse, the role of women in society, and the disposition of Catholics and others toward those who identify as LGBT.
The film addresses the pastoral outreach of Pope Francis to those who identify as LGBT, including a story of the pontiff encouraging two Italian men in a same-sex relationship to raise their children in their parish church, which, one of the men said, was greatly beneficial to his children.
What makes Pope Francis comments supporting same-sex civil unions today so momentous? First, he is saying them as Pope, not Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Second, he is clearly supporting, not simply tolerating, civil unions. Third, he is saying it on camera, not privately. Historic
— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) October 21, 2020
In a new documentary, Pope Francis says separating migrant children from their parents is “something a Christian cannot do. It’s cruelty of the highest form.”https://t.co/R8pwi9O2KR
— America Magazine (@americamag) October 21, 2020
Republicans are appealing to traditionalist Catholics by tying Joe Biden to modern conspiracy theories and historical divides in the Roman Catholic community, @TishDurkin reports. Is it working? https://t.co/4sJRD4thUE
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) October 21, 2020
No word on how former Episcopalians — clergy and laity — now in the Catholic Church are taking the news.
All Content © 2017 Episcopal Café
Pope Francis is a truly holy person with a profound understanding of and commitment to what constitutes justice from a Christian and catholic perspective. His latest encyclical Fratelli Tutti ( available from The Vatican on line, requiring several hours of a studied read) with criticism of market economics, capital punishment and the so called ‘just war’ theory will be much more impactful and controversial, not least because of its authority, than his moderate comments on same sex partnerships. However, it is all of a piece from a man with a truly sagacious pastoral heart. The response from faithful Roman Catholic families with GLBTQ2 members is perhaps the most credible gauge of the impact of Francis’ remarks.
Helpfully shows the limited character of ‘papal infallibility’ or even primacy. Francis speaks as Francis in a documentary. Untouched is catholic teaching on marriage. This will, however, bring the fire down inside the RCC, probably deservedly. The CofE likely thought ‘civil unions’ would be met with thanks from LGBT advocates, whatever else they might portend. That proved a false trail. Advocates are not interested in civil unions as any end game.