In a scene in the documentary ‘Francesco’, which makes its U.S. premiere October 25th, Pope Francis endorses the idea of governments establishing civil unions for the LGBTQ community.
The comment is, on its face, interpreted as a break with centuries of Catholic doctrine which has held that homosexuality is an abomination.
That may be the appearance of what Francis has done, but at its root, it is right in line with what this 21st Century Pope has preached since rising to the seat of the papacy.
Dr. Thomas Ryan, Director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry puts perspective on Francis’ statement and what it means for his papacy.
“He’s been saying all along, and in fact I would say, it’s what the Gospel has been saying all along, that we need to recognize the dignity of all people,” Ryan says. “And especially the people who have been marginalized by society.”
Inclusion. The recognition and care for the poor, sick, indigent, the outcasts and left-behinds of our world.
Time and again Francis has implored upon us to care for the have-nots of our world.
“In his most recent encyclical, he talks about and emphasizes that we’re all family,” Ryan explains. “And if we recognize each other as sisters and brothers, we’ll treat each other more kindly with mercy and justice.”
To some, be them more conservative Catholics, Francis’ endorsement (which was less than a minute of screen time in the documentary) is controversial.
To this Ryan explains, “I’m not surprised that there would be disagreement, that there would be harsh words,” he says. “But my hope would be that people would open their hearts and listen to and be challenged by not just what Pope Francis says, but what the Gospel says.”
Pope Francis has explained that every person needs to belong to a family. Civil unions codified by governments on Earth is a way of dealing with the LGBTQ community which has long been at odds with the Catholic Church and other Christian faiths over marriage.
“I think that Pope Francis is challenging us to think about what that means in this particular situation of the LGBTQ community,” he states. “And I think that’s a challenge to all people of faith. What does it mean to a person of love, of justice, of mercy?”
As the old Charlie Pride song All His Children, from 50 years ago, reminds us: “You know we’re all God’s children, his next of kin, that’s the way it began… …and we’re part of the family of man.”