Catholic Church slowly moves in the right direction on same-sex relationships
- Pope Francis has made his clearest remarks yet on gay relationships, saying they should be legally protected in the form of a civil union. While this should not be confused with recognising same-sex marriages, critics cannot deny that progress has been made
The pope periodically makes politically correct remarks about homosexuality, yet he never seems willing to grant full recognition to same-sex marriages. He has repeatedly said he is for gay rights, but has so far refrained from making any real change in the church’s fundamental doctrine, which still refers to such relationships as “deviant behaviour”.
He said homosexual people should have a right to form a family. Besides quoting the pope’s comments on same-sex civil unions, the documentary also shows him encouraging two gay men to attend church with their three children.
Even so, as far as the pope and the Vatican are concerned, such a family may be entitled to comparable legal rights and protection, it still does not equate to the traditional opposite sex marriages, along with the spiritual recognition that the latter have always enjoyed.
Pope Francis endorses same-sex civil unions in new documentary
The church has, time and again, reaffirmed its position that “respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behaviour or to legal recognition of homosexual unions”. That remains the pope’s position today, however liberal-sounding his remarks on this and related topics often appear.
Still, critics should not deny progress has been made. In recent decades, the church has moved from being one of the most hostile and repressive anti-gay institutions in the world to its current position, which accepts gay people and their children as part of the global Catholic community and entitled to the same privileges and duties as other worshippers. It has been more progressive than the Hong Kong diocese and even the government, which should reflect on the Vatican’s example.
But, the institution the pope presides over remains profoundly conservative. Still, the acceptance of gay relationships is recent, even in the West. In many other societies, the general attitude is still overtly hostile or even violent. The Catholic Church is moving in the right direction under Francis, but it is woefully slow.
