Pope Francis announced his support for same-sex couples.
What We Know:
- While being interviewed for the new documentary Francesco, Pope Francis endorsed same-sex civil unions. The film covers the Pope’s most cared about issues, including poverty, migration, inequality, and the environment.
“Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God. You can’t kick someone out of a family, nor make their life miserable for this. What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.” – Pope Francis
- Francis supported civil unions as an alternative to same-sex marriage while he was archbishop of Buenos Aires. This is his first time publicly endorsing same-sex civil unions as pope.
- Francis’ remarks were met with mixed reactions within the Catholic establishment. Reverend James Martin, a prominent Jesuit advocate for the LGBT community, said the Pope’s words were a “big step forward”. “In the past, even civil unions were frowned upon in many quarters of the church. He is putting his weight behind legal recognition of same-sex civil unions,” Martin said.
- Catholic figures throughout the United States have criticized Pope Francis for his comments. San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone voiced his opposition to same-sex couples and said that civil unions “can in no way be equated to marriage”. Cordileone raised $1 million for California’s Proposition 8 in 2008, which would have banned same-sex couples from marrying. It was later ruled unconstitutional.
Francesco premiered Wednesday at the Rome Film Festival. It is directed by the Academy Award-nominated Evgeny Afineevsky.
