BY MATÉ ESPINA
THE WORLD is abuzz with the declaration of Pope Francis that same-sex couples must be protected by civil union laws. It dislodged COVID stories and even the upcoming US presidential elections from the top news.
Catholics and non-Catholics alike are divided on the statement. Many in the faith that embraced the rights of the LGBTQ community welcomed the pronouncements but it was also criticized by many conservatives who are asking for more clarification.
Will the Pope’s statement become a policy to Bishops and Church leaders who are against this idea? I am sure this will be a subject of debate in our country where most Catholics are perceived to be in the conservative side.
The controversial comments were among the highlights in the documentary entitled “Francesco” which was directed by Evgeny Afineevsky and released last Wednesday.
Of course it stopped short of saying that the Catholic Church is moving towards same-sex marriage but simply recognizing that civil union laws must be available to gay couples so they can have their rights to a family and property among others, protected.
“Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it. What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered. I stood up for that,” the Pope said.
But more than the civil rights that should be enjoyed by gay couples, not just in countries where such union are valid, the statement of Pope Francis gives recognition to gay unions as acceptable and being gay does not deprive you of being a child of God.
This is quite a huge step from the teachings of the Catholic Church which stands on the teaching that while being homosexual is not a sin, homosexual acts are, thus the opposition to gay marriage. However, with this, a civil union may constitute intimacy thus it can mean that intimacy itself between same-sex couples may not anymore fall under the category of “sin”.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that President Rodrigo Duterte has always been supportive of same-sex civil unions, however, this needs to be passed by Congress where the lobby for such could become very heated.
But with this papal endorsement, Roque believes this debate will sail through Congress. “With no less than the pope supporting it, I think even the most conservative of all Catholics in Congress should no longer have a basis for objecting,” Roque said.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines have yet to make an official statement on the matter but already, several bishops have slammed it with one claiming that perhaps, there was editing alterations done in the documentary for propaganda purposes or to make it popular.
Retired Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes in news reports, was very strong in admitting he was “scandalized” and raised doubts about the “moral correctness” of such statement.
“The long-standing church teachings, explicitly permits only the union of man and woman whether in civil, legal or church sacramental unions. I am really scandalized by his (Pope) defense of homosexual union, which surely leads to immoral acts,” Bastes said.
The same divisive opinion are making waves in the global stage. In a Reuters report, Jesuit priest, Fr. James Martin took the Pope’s statement as a “clear and public support for same-sex civil unions and marks a new stage in the church’s relationship with LGBTQ people.”
In the same report however, Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island was very vocal about his opposition to the statement saying this “clearly contradicts what has been the long-standing teaching of the Church about same-sex unions. The Church cannot support the acceptance of objectively immoral relationships.”
Social media is lively talking about this too and even among friends, this conversation has been divisive as well. A conservative friend of mine posted that this pronouncement must be indicative that “the end is near” or that the Pope must be under pressure from the Vatican.
Of course that is far from the truth because even early on when he ascended to the throne, Pope Francis has been very vocal about his views on homosexuality saying “Who am I to judge?”
The Pope too has been among those who acknowledged the sexual crimes committed by priests and other Church leaders and late last year even abolished the “cloak of confidentiality” that covers clerics by encouraging the Church to share information related to sexual abuse claims to civil authorities.
Even the United Nations joined in praising the Pope’s stance with Secretary General Antonio Guterres who is a Catholic, describing it as “a very positive move.”
Last year, I attended a same-sex wedding of my niece in Batangas performed by a priest from a Church that embraces gayness. It was a beach wedding patterned after Catholic rites with both wearing white long gowns.
Although it wasn’t easy for the parents initially, the pride and acceptance in my cousin’s face (the father of one bride) made it all the more beautiful. I stand with the Pope./PN
