Pope on gay union

Pope Francis made a surprising statement in a recently-released documentary, calling for gay people to have the right to enter into civil unions. Francis explained his position by noting that civil unions allow gay people “the right to be legally protected”, and “the right to be in a family”. The statement from the head of the Catholic Church should not surprise anyone familiar with his life. Even before he rose to the papacy as Francis, as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, the Argentine Jorge Bergoglio has consistently called for acceptance and rights for gay people. And even though he also still opposes gay marriage, the difference between civil unions and marriages is purely religious. For all intents and purposes, countries that recognise civil unions treat them equally with heterosexual marriage, the only difference being in the name.

Francis also appears to be welcoming of adoption by gay couples. In the documentary, Francis invites a gay couple with three young children to bring them to church and ignore the judgment of others. This is another instance where he has shattered past precedent for popes. Under Pope John Paul II, the Vatican had said that “legal recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same level as marriage would mean not only the approval of deviant behavior...but would also obscure basic values which belong to the common inheritance of humanity.”

Vatican policy will likely be modified soon to accommodate Francis’ views. Such a change will certainly face opposition from several priests and parishioners, especially in countries where being openly homosexual is either a crime or socially unacceptable. But the only real question should be what, if anything, is at stake by allowing gay people to have basic rights. Gay people have always existed. Recognising them only means that they get tax, inheritance and adoption rights. At the end of the day, all children, including orphans, deserve to grow up with loving parents. This just gives them a better chance at it.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2020.

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