Pope Francis has endorsed same-sex civil unions in a new documentary. You can watch the trailer here:
In the documentary, entitled Francesco, the 83-year-old said: “Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God.
“Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it.
“What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.”
Francesco had its premiere at Rome Film Festival earlier today (Wednesday 21 October), and this comment represents his most direct endorsement of same-sex civil unions to date.
Reverend James Martin – a prominent Jesuit who has long advocated for the church to be more welcoming to LGBT members – said this was a move in the right direction.
Speaking to The Washington Post, he said: “I think it’s a big step forward. In the past, even civil unions were frowned upon in many quarters of the church. He is putting his weight behind legal recognition of same-sex civil unions.”
