A New Page In the Flying Magisterium

Regarding the recognition of same-sex marriages, the Pope maintained his position, a position already condemned by the Church, in particular by John Paul II and Benedict XVI. In fact, in a text entitled Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, published in 2003, it is concluded that:

“The Church teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behavior or legal recognition of homosexual unions. ...Legal recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same level as marriage would mean not only the approval of deviant behavior, with the consequence of making it a model in present-day society, but would also obscure basic values ​​which belong to the common inheritance of humanity, (no. 11).”

Pope Francis reiterates that he refuses to call these unions a marriage, and he insists on this idea. But he adds that there are “laws that try to help the situation of many people of different sexual orientations. And this is important… states have the possibility of civilly supporting them.” This clearly goes against the above conclusion.

Francis was also questioned by an American journalist about the debate among the bishops in the United States over “giving Communion to politicians who have supported pro-abortion laws.”

The Pope recalls the seriousness of abortion which he does not hesitate to call “murder.” But as to the problem of the refusal of Communion, the Pope affirms: “But the issue is not a theological problem…it is a pastoral problem.” 

But the Pope insists: “If we look at the history of the Church, we will see that every time the bishops have not managed a problem as pastors, they have taken sides about political life, about political problems.”

And to enlighten us, the Sovereign Pontiff gives examples: “Think of the night of St.  Bartholomew: heretics, yes, ‘let's kill them all’. ... Think of the witch hunt, in Campo de’ Fiori [Rome square where Giordano Bruno was burned in 1600, Editor's note], Savonarola [who also died at the stake, Editor's note].”

The night of St. Bartholomew was a political act of the King of France. Much of Savonarola's story is also political, in the strict sense of the word. But the Pope insists: “When the Church, in order to defend a principle, does not do it pastorally, she takes sides politically. And this has always been the case. Just look at history.”

He adds, “What should the pastor do? Be a shepherd, do not go around condemning, but be a pastor.” He finally concludes: “If he stops this shepherding of the Church, immediately he becomes a politician. And you will this in all the denunciations, in all the non-pastoral condemnations that the Church makes.”