A Word From Fr. Sean

Many of you have seen the words of Pope Francis all over the news. The headlines read something like, “Pope changes Catholic teaching on same-sex civil unions.” This originated from an interview that Pope Francis gave which was included in a documentary. It has raised more questions than answers. I can’t speak to our Holy Father’s intention with the comment, but I can share many of the things that I have read. First of all is that the statement in the interview seems to be misunderstood, misquoted, and often mistranslated. The Pope seems to support the inclusion of people with same-sex attraction in their families; they shouldn’t be tossed out of their families. Also he seems to support legislation that legally protects people with same-sex attraction from discrimination. These have always been supported by the Church. Secondly we can’t change revealed doctrine. God has revealed marriage is between one man and one woman; this can’t be changed by a Pope. Finally this soundbite was given in a conversational interview which is very different from the teaching or practice of the Church. In 2003 the Vatican published a document entitled, “Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons.” This document provides the Church’s clear teaching on the matter, not an interview that may have been taken out of context and poorly translated. It is unfortunate that we have to address these questions and take time to respond, but the Lord is still in charge of His Church. “I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 )

Fr. Sean Wilson