Bishop Kevin Vann and Auxiliary Bishops Timothy Freyer and Thanh Thai Nguyen provide clarity on Pope Francis’ comments on civil unions. We want to provide clarity around comments made by the Holy Father Pope Francis during an interview for a biographical film released in Rome today. The Holy Father made some statements that the mainstream media has misconstrued regarding the sanctity of marriage in the Catholic Church. Be assured that Church teachings have not changed. A marriage is between a man and a woman as constituted by God and affirmed through scripture. The Holy Father’s reference to a civil union law is about a domestic partnership for same-sex cohabitating couples for their legal protections. The latter is not equal to marriage in the eyes of the Catholic Church. This past January when the bishops of our region were on our Ad Limina visit, the Holy Father spoke to us specifically about this and clearly differentiated between a civil arrangement that accords mutual benefits to two people, and marriage. The former, he said, can in no way be equated to marriage, which remains unique. He even said “I would add that a civil union of this type (one which is not equated to marriage) should be inclusive as possible, and not restricted to people of the same sex in a presumed sexual relationship. There is no reason, for example, why a brother and a sister, both of whom are unmarried, should not have access to these kinds of benefits.” Pope Francis continually asks us to pray for him, so please join us in keeping the Holy Father in our prayers.
Statement from the Bishops of Orange regarding Pope Francis’ Comments on Civil Unions
