What did Pope Francis say about civil unions?

"Francesco", a newly released documentary on the life and ministry of Pope Francis, made headlines worldwide, because the film contains a scene in which Pope Francis calls for the approval of civil union laws for same-sex couples .

Some activists and media reports have suggested that Pope Francis changed Catholic teaching with his remarks. Among many Catholics, the pope's comments have raised questions about what the pope actually said, what it means and what the Church teaches about civil unions and marriage. CNA examines these questions.

What did Pope Francis say about civil unions?

During a segment of "Francis" that discussed Pope Francis' pastoral care for Catholics who identify as LGBT, the pope made two separate comments.

First he said that: “Homosexuals have the right to be part of the family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. No one should be expelled or made unhappy because of this. "

While the pope did not elaborate on the significance of those remarks in the video, Pope Francis spoke earlier to encourage parents and relatives not to ostracize or avoid children who have identified as LGBT. This seems to be the sense in which the pope spoke of the right of people to be part of the family.

Some have suggested that when Pope Francis spoke of "the right to a family," the Pope was offering some sort of tacit support for same-sex adoption. But the pope previously spoke out against such adoptions, saying that through them children are "deprived of their human development given by a father and a mother and willed by God", and saying that "every person needs a father. male and female mother who can help them shape their identity “.

On civil unions, the pope said that: “What we need to create is a law on civil unions. This way they are legally covered. "

"I defended this," Pope Francis added, apparently in reference to his proposal to the brother bishops, during a 2010 debate in Argentina on gay marriage, that the acceptance of civil unions could be a way to prevent the passage of laws. on same-sex marriage in the country.

What did Pope Francis say about gay marriage?

Nothing. The topic of gay marriage was not discussed in the documentary. In his ministry, Pope Francis has often affirmed the doctrinal teaching of the Catholic Church that marriage is a lifelong partnership between a man and a woman.

While Pope Francis has often encouraged a welcoming disposition to Catholics who identify as LGBT, the pope also said that "marriage is between a man and a woman," and said that "the family is threatened by growing efforts by some to redefine the very institution of marriage ”, and efforts to redefine marriage“ threaten to disfigure God's plan for creation ”.

Why are the pope's comments on civil unions a big deal?

Although Pope Francis has previously discussed civil unions, he has never explicitly approved the idea in public before. Although the context of his citations in the documentary is not fully disclosed, and it is possible that the pope added qualifications not seen on camera, approving civil unions for same-sex couples is a very different approach for a pope, who represents a departure from the position of his two immediate predecessors on the issue.

In 2003, in a document approved by Pope John Paul II and written by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith taught that "respect for homosexual people cannot in any way lead to approval homosexual behavior or the legal recognition of homosexual unions “.

Even if civil unions could be chosen by people other than same-sex couples, as committed siblings or friends, the CDF said homosexual relationships would be "foreseen and approved by law" and that civil unions "will obscure some moral values ​​of base. and cause a devaluation of the institution of marriage “.

"The legal recognition of homosexual unions or their placement on the same level as marriage would mean not only the approval of deviant behavior, with the consequence of making it a model in today's society, but would also obscure the fundamental values ​​that belong to the common heritage of humanity ", concludes the document.

The 2003 CDF document contains the doctrinal truth and positions of John Paul II and Benedict XVI on how to best apply the doctrinal teaching of the Church to political issues concerning civil supervision and the regulation of marriage. While these positions are consistent with the Church's longstanding discipline on the matter, they are not themselves considered articles of faith.

Some people have said that what the pope taught is heresy. It's true?

No. The pope's remarks did not deny or question any doctrinal truth that Catholics should uphold or believe. Indeed, the pope has often affirmed the Church's doctrinal teaching regarding marriage.

The pope's apparent call for civil union legislation, which appears to be different from the position expressed by the CDF in 2003, was taken to represent a departure from a long-standing moral judgment that Church leaders have taught supports and sustains. the truth. The CDF document states that civil union laws give tacit consent to homosexual behavior; while the pope expressed support for civil unions, in his pontificate he also spoke of the immorality of homosexual acts.

It is also important to note that a documentary interview is not a forum for official papal teaching. The pope's remarks have not been presented in their entirety and no transcripts have been submitted, so unless the Vatican offers further clarity, they must be taken in light of the limited information available on them.

We have a same-sex marriage in this country. Why is anyone talking about civil unions?

There are 29 countries in the world that legally recognize same-sex "marriage". Most of them are found in Europe, North America or South America. But in other parts of the world, the debate on the definition of marriage has only just begun. In some parts of Latin America, for example, the redefinition of marriage is not an established political topic, and Catholic political activists have opposed efforts to normalize civil union legislation.

Opponents of civil unions say they are usually a bridge to same-sex marriage legislation, and marriage activists in some countries have said they are concerned that LGBT lobbyists will use the pope's words in the documentary to advance a path towards same-sex marriage.

What does the Church teach about homosexuality?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that those who identify as LGBT “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Any sign of unfair discrimination against them should be avoided. These people are called to carry out the will of God in their life and, if they are Christians, to unite the difficulties they may encounter from their condition to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross ”.

The Catechism states that homosexual inclinations are "objectively disordered", homosexual acts are "contrary to natural law" and those who identify themselves as lesbian and gay, like all people, are called to the virtue of chastity.

Are Catholics required to agree with the pope on civil unions?

The statements of Pope Francis in "Francis" do not constitute formal papal teaching. While the pope's affirmation of the dignity of all people and his call for respect for all people are rooted in Catholic teaching, Catholics are not obliged to take a legislative or political position due to the pope's comments in a documentary. .

Some bishops expressed that they awaited further clarity on the pope's comments from the Vatican, while one explained that: “While the Church's teaching on marriage is clear and irreformable, the conversation must continue on the best ways to reverence the dignity of sexual relations. so that they are not subject to any unfair discrimination. "