Pope Francis' Statement in a Documentary says he Endorses Civil Union Laws for Same Sex Couples

Pope Francis

 

Green light from Pope Francis.  The pontiff's judgment is contained in a documentary titled "Francesco,” which premiered Wednesday at the Rome Film Festival.  The Pope says that “homosexual people have the right to be in a family.  They are children of God and have the right to a family.”

For homosexual couples we must "create a law on civil unions, I am in favor."  These are the words of Pope Francis in a documentary made by the Russian filmmaker candidate for an Oscar, Evgeny Afineevsky.

"Homosexual people have a right to a family.  They are children of God, and they have a right to a family.  Nobody should be denied this possibility," says Bergoglio.  "What we must create - continues the pontiff - is a law on civil unions.  In this way, homosexuals would enjoy legal coverage.  I have defended  norms of this type."

The Pope's words come after a long journey by the Church on the matter.  Only in recent years has the Church recognized the need for ad hoc legislation for homosexual couples.  Bergoglio himself had already surprised the world in July 2013 by asking himself "who am I to judge a gay?" and that throughout his pontificate he showed his openness and closeness to the LGBT universe.

The documentary, which will premiere in North America on Sunday, shows the Pope's phone call to a homosexual couple, Andrea and Francesco, with three small dependent children, in response to their letter in which they showed their great embarrassment in the bring their children to church.  The Holy Father's advice is to take the children to the parish anyway regardless of any judgments.