Pope Francis does not change church law on the issue of same-sex marriage, said Veritas Pilipinas anchor priests Fr. Emmanuel Alfonso SJ, Executive director of Jesuits Communication and Msgr. Pepe Quitorio about reports that the Pope allows same-sex marriage.
Msgr. Quitorio, director of the Media office of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the Holy Father only emphasized focusing on the rights of homosexuals as part of the family and society.
“It is not a change of dogma, or document ng simbahan. Walang binago. Ang sa kanya lang (Pope Francis), bigyan ng atensyon ng civil government kasi may mga problema ‘yang ganyan and they are our brothers and sisters,” said Msgr. Quitorio.
In a separate statement, Fr. Alfonso said that everyone has the right to be cared for, respected, and loved, as stated in the church documents.
“May karugtong daw yan. Tinanggal na ang ‘this doesn’t mean that I support homosexual act.’ Tinanggal yun. Ganun po talaga ‘yan. Pangalawa, matagal nang turo ng simbahan at ito, ang mahalaga na ang third sex na matagal na may mga dokumento na ang simbahan na ang people are differently orientated, dapat respetuhin pa rin natin. Respetuhin, kalingain, mahalin. So yun po ang context ng katuruan ng simbahan, hinihingi po na nagbigyan natin ng paggalang ang lahat ng tao anuman ang kanyang kasarian. Pangatlong punto nga natin iba po ang civil union sa marriage,” the priest said.
Pope’s statement on same-sex union taken out of context – priests
The priest asserted that Pope Francis explained the difference between civil union and the sacrament of marriage, which the church opposes on the same sex, but which requires protection under civil law.
The Pope’s controversial statement comes from a documentary film released in Rome, Italy.
“Hindi yan bago, yan ay bahagi ng isang documentary film na nag-premiere nung isang araw sa Roma, Italya. Pinik-up nila ang mga kontrobersyal statement,” said Alfonso.
Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP-Permanent Committee on Public Affairs, said that the church’s teaching on the issue of marriage has not changed.
Fr. Secillano said that only Pope could explain the true meaning of “Una Ley de Convivencia Civil,” which had different interpretations.