Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Leaders of the Catholic Church Vatican, Pope Francis, supports the creation of a legal basis that regulates the relationship ties same-sex couples.
Pope Francis makes that statement in the film Fransesco, a documentary directed by Russian filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky, which premiered at the Rome Film Festival, Wednesday (21/10).
“Homosexuals have the right to be in a family. They are children of God and have the right to a family. Nothing should be thrown away or made miserable for it,” the Pope said in the film as reported by the Catholic News Agency and was quoted as saying CNN, Thursday (22/10).
“All we have to do is civil law. That way, they are protected by law,” he added.
According to the film’s website, the film also explores Pope Francis’ work and views on other issues, including climate change, migration and economic equality. The documentary Fransesco will premiere in the Americas next Sunday, during the SCAD Savannah Film Festival.
In an earlier interview, Pope Francis said he was not against the civil ties of same-sex couples. However, this was the first time he had directly expressed his support.
While serving as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis advocated the civil bonding of same-sex couples as an alternative amid debate in Argentina about proposing to legalize same-sex marriage.
Pope Francis’ comments differ from those of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who called homosexuality an “intrinsic moral evil”.
Jesuit pastor James Martin, who is working to get the church to accept Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) said bishops from many countries, including some in the United States and Poland, who oppose civil ties should rethink their position.
“He (the Pope) created a new space for LGBT people … He said it very clearly. Not just because he tolerated it. He supported it,” Martin told Christine Amanpour of CNN, Wednesday (21/10).
In the US, Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, asked the Vatican for further clarification and said Pope Francis’s comments contradicted the church’s teachings on same-sex unity.
“The Church cannot support accepting relationships that are objectively immoral,” Thomas said in a statement.
“Individuals with same-sex attractions are beloved children of God and should have their human rights and civil rights recognized and protected by law. However, the legalization of their civil unions, which seek to simulate sacred marriage, is unacceptable,” he added.
Meanwhile, Director of Public Policy for the Archdiocese of New York, Ed Mechmann, called Pope Francis’ comments a serious mistake that could cause a lot of confusion.
“In this respect, I think we have to admit that the Father was wrong. Catholics cannot promote the legalization of same-sex partner bonding. But we also have to be clear that he is not changing the Church’s teaching on homosexuality or union sex bonding in any way,” he said.
(years / ayp)
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