The MSNBC report on Pope Francis and civil unions that I’ve just published, states that a full English translation is available at Catholic News Service. I’m not sure if this is quite correct - it looks to me like a report on the interview, rather than a full translation of the complete interview, but it does offer more than other reports. I have the complete Italian text, which I will compare with the CNS version, and report on as soon as I’ve completed grappling with the language. (UPDATE: It’s clearly NOT a complete translation. I’m working now with the Italian text, and will have more shortly).
Here are the parts of the CNS report, that deal specifically with civil unions. .
Pope, in interview, suggests church could tolerate some civil unions
By Francis X. Rocca
Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis suggested the Catholic Church could tolerate some types of nonmarital civil unions as a practical measure to guarantee property rights and health care. He also said the church would not change its teaching against artificial birth control but should take care to apply it with “much mercy.”
Pope Francis’ words appeared in an interview published March 5 in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
“Matrimony is between a man and a woman,” the pope said, but moves to “regulate diverse situations of cohabitation (are) driven by the need to regulate economic aspects among persons, as for instance to assure medical care.” Asked to what extent the church could understand this trend, he replied: “It is necessary to look at the diverse cases and evaluate them in their variety.”
Bishops around the world have differed in their responses to civil recognition of nonmarital unions. The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family said in February 2013 that some legal arrangements are justifiable to protect the inheritance rights of nonmarried couples. But until now, no pope has indicated even tentative acceptance of civil unions.
Related articles
- German Bishop Declares Support for Gay Civil Unions, Says Sexual Doctrines Must Change. (queeringthechurch.com)
- This Time It Was Recorded (commonwealmagazine.org)
