Pope Francis Endorses Same-Sex Civil Unions in First for Catholic Church
Modern Pope
Since becoming Pope, Francis has been seen as a progressive figure, at least by the standards of the Catholic Church. In 2013, he famously responded to a question about where gay people fit into the Catholic Church by asking, “Who am I to judge?”Many believe that Francis has brought a modern outlook to the Church, which for years has seen declining membership. By adapting a less judgmental tone—and concentrating the Church’s efforts on fighting poverty and injustice—he has made the age-old institution more palatable to young adherents.The Rev. James Martin, a fellow Jesuit who has been at the forefront of welcoming queer Catholics into the Church, praised Francis’ comments. Martin called the Pope’s candor “a major step forward in the Church’s support for LGBT people.”“The Pope’s speaking positively about civil unions also sends a strong message to places where the Church has opposed such laws,” Martin wrote in a statement.Additionally, the Pope’s statement that “homosexual people have the right to be in a family” is a major step forward for the institution. In the United States alone, somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. A huge contributor to this crisis is rejection by the family, often on religious grounds.But Francis’ theology has often emphasized love and acceptance of others, even if their actions are transgressive. In affirming the right of gay people to be part of a family, with the right to build their own families through civil unions, the Pope has sent a strong message to the global Catholic community: all people have equal value before God.Link to share this: https://gospelsermons.org/pope-francis-endorses-same-sex-civil-unions-in-first-for-catholic-church/