LGBTQ Catholics and their allies in the U.S. welcomed Pope Francis’ endorsement of same-sex civil unions, the first time he’s done so as pontiff, while some prominent members including a bishop said Wednesday that he was blatantly contradicting church teaching.
Pope Francis, in a documentary released on Wednesday, expressed support for “civil union laws” for same-sex couples, Reuters reported.
“Homosexual people have a right to be in a family,” he said in the documentary titled Francesco, by Evgeny Afineevsky. “They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it.”
This is a departure from the position of his predecessors and the comments will revive the debate within the church on sexual morals, and draw criticism from conservatives who say the pope has drifted too far from traditional values.
In Europe, North America and other Western countries, too, it is expected to have an impact on the cultural wars over sexuality within the church and beyond.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin tweeted his praise for Pope Francis.
He wrote: “With focus on COVID it’s important we don’t miss big positive events in the world around us.
