‘Pope did not endorse same-sex civil union’

The Manila Archdiocese’s Commission on Family and Life on Friday said Pope Francis’ statement in a documentary about his life was not an endorsement of same-sex civil union.

“As a good pastor and leader of the Catholic Church, we see Pope Francis calling for legal protection of ‘civil unions’ between same-sex-attracted persons which we cannot deny exist. While their union is in no way being endorsed as a marriage and a sacrament, the Pope is calling that rights that accrue to them as legal persons and children of God be given them and be covered by law,” Fr. Joel Jason, commissioner of the Manila Archdiocese Commission on Family and Life, said.

Jason asked the faithful to continue praying for Pope Francis and his solemn duty to “sail the bark of Peter safely afloat amidst the confusion and challenges of the modern times.”