Pope Francis says same-sex couples have a right to be legally covered

This is the trailer for “Francesco,” a documentary featuring interviews with the pope, in which he addresses issues like migration, racism, the pandemic, climate change and the situation of gays.

When the director asks him if gay people can take their kids to church, he responds with this.

“Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it. What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered.”

Pope Francis points out that he had addressed this matter in the past. He is referring to his years as the archbishop of Buenos Aires, when he opposed the approval of a law allowing for same-sex marriage. He did however support extending legal protection of same-sex couples' rights in different matters, which could include inheritances and accessibility to medical care.

Pope Francis' proposal is not to call the cohabitation of a same-sex couple a Catholic marriage, but to respect private decisions and demonstrate that all people have the same dignity.

POPE FRANCIS
“We must accompany people, like Jesus would. When this type of person comes before Jesus, He will never answer, 'Leave because you are a homosexual!', no.”

The documentary was directed by Russian Evgeny Afineevsky, who has explored the situation of gays in several of his movies.


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