Pope Francis claims support for same-sex civil unions

As informed by the Catholic News Agency, for the first time, Pope Francis has professed support for civil unions of same-sex couples.

The latest documentary film directed by a filmmaker from Russa, Evgeny Afineevsky, was presented at the Rome Film Festival yesterday. In the film, which has been titled Francesco, the Pope commented on the topic.

“Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it,” the Pope stated in the film, the Catholic News Agency conveyed.

“What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered,” he said.

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The Pope’s insights into topics like climate change, migration and economic disparities were also focused upon in the film. It will be presented in North America in the SCAD Savannah Film Festival on the coming Sunday.

Pope Francis expressed his support in favour of civil unions for the first time, even though in the past, the Pope has expressed that he is not opposed to them.

Being the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis suggested same-sex civil unions as a substitute for same-sex marriage when Argentina was deliberating about legalizing the latter.

Benedict XVI had different views from Francis’ as the former supplied headlines to news channels when he deemed homosexuality as an ‘intrinsic moral evil’.

Pope’s views supported by other Archbishops

The person who was in favour of welcoming LGBTQ people to the church was Jesuit father James Martin. He remarked that bishops from other countries like Poland and USA will have to reconsider their stances, as they were ‘violently against’ civil unions.

“He’s creating a new space for LGBT people … He’s saying it on the record and he’s being very clear. It’s not simply that he’s tolerating it — he’s supporting it,” Martin stated to CNN.

People disputing the comments

Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, in USA, Rhode Island, wanted further elaboration, as the comments made by Francis dispute the church’s wisdoms on same-sex unions.

The director of policy for the Archidiocese of New York, Ed Mechmann, stated that the remarks made by the Pope were a grave mistake that can ensue confusions.