Leonard Dollentas
In the documentary film, “Francesco” premiered at the Rome Film Festival last October 16, 2020, filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky chronicles Pope Francis’s approach to pressing social issues. In one portion of the documentary referring to homosexual people, Pope Francis appeared to endorse same-sex civil unions when he stated in Spanish: “They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it. What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered. I stood up for that.”
Pope Francis has been marked by international media as more sympathetic towards the LGBTQ agenda. Immediately the Pope’s statement in the documentary sent the media into a frenzy with headlines that read: “Pope Francis Endorses Civil Unions for Same-Sex Couples,” “Pope Francis calls for the legalization of same-sex civil unions.” Swiftly, the headlines stirred confusion among many who wondered whether this statement signified a change in church teaching about homosexual people.
To shed some light on the issue, a number of theologians and Church leaders offered explanations. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in their statement on October 19, 2020, clarified that: “Pope Francis’ support for laws on same-sex civil union is an expression of kindness and is not a support for same-sex marriage.” CBCP’s acting President Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said that the Pope was only following Jesus Christ’s example of welcoming all to the Church, even if they were sinners. He further made it clear and admitted: “This is how we understand what Pope Francis is doing. He is not out to destroy our morals and orthodoxy. He just wants to do as Jesus himself did. He valued being kind and compassionate more than being right and righteous.”
The chief adviser of Pope Francis in the Vatican and Boston’s Cardinal Seán O’Malley, said in a statement that Francis “strongly and consistently teaches that marriage is between a man and woman for a lifetime and that this is God’s plan for having and raising children.”
The Cardinal noted that the Pope is “very aware of the suffering and alienation of homosexual individuals, gay people, who are rejected by family and society.” He strongly noted that the popes “endorsement of civil unions is not an endorsement of homosexual activity.” He emphasized that “our task, is to show people that we love them and care about them and that together we can strive to be better people, more generous, more courageous and more faithful to what God is calling us to do.”
Among laypersons who also shed light on this issue was Colleen Dulle of America Media (the Jesuit review). She wrote on its October 22, 2020, issue: “The pope has not changed church teaching, but he has certainly changed the pastoral tone with which the church approaches L.G.B.T. people. It was this change in tone that was widely celebrated by L.G.B.T. Catholics yesterday, including the advocacy groups Dignity and New Ways Ministry, who celebrated the statement on civil unions but were under no illusions that the church had changed its teaching on gay marriage.”
Indeed, Pope Francis was being consistent with his motto, Miserando Atque Eligendo (“having mercy and choosing him”). In his recent statement about homosexual unions, he showed the world that being kind and compassionate is more important than being right and righteous. According to Bishop David: “He didn’t openly say he approved of the religion of the Samaritans or the politics of the Romans. He just treated them with the same kindness and compassion that he extended to any human being; and he was judged for it.” (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Follow
