Pope Francis has called for the passage of civil union laws for same-sex couples.
The Pope’s call which marks a shift from the position of the Vatican’s doctrinal office and the pope’s predecessors on the issue, came in a documentary that premiered Wednesday in Rome.
“Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it,” Pope Francis said in the film, of his approach to pastoral care.
The remarks came amid a portion of the documentary that reflected on pastoral care for those who identify as LGBT, Catholic News Agency (CNA) reported.
The Pope’s remarks will certainly spark controversy among Catholics since the case of civil unions for same-sex couples has been treated with caution in the church. “What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered,” the pope said. “I stood up for that.”
The Pope made the remarks in “Francesco,” a documentary on the life and ministry of Pope Francis by Evgeny Afineevsky. Through exclusive interviews with Pope Francis himself, with Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, with members of the Pope’s family and many more, Afineevsky highlights the challenges of our time, the urgencies that need answering and the mission of the Church in looking to those who suffer injustices.