VATICAN CITY (RNS) A top Vatican official blamed the media for “derailing” his recent remarks on possible legal protections for unmarried couples, while reaffirming his support for British and French bishops who have been vocal opponents of same-sex marriage.
Speaking at a Vatican press conference on Monday (Feb. 4), Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, head of the Pontifical Council for the Family, had acknowledged that nations could find “private law solutions” to protect the rights of unmarried couples — including, potentially, gay and lesbian couples.
Paglia also said the church should support the repeal of laws that criminalize homosexuality in various countries.
His remarks were widely repeated, with some interpreting it as a softening of the Vatican’s stance just as bishops in France and Britain are furiously opposing the legalization of same-sex marriage.
In an interview on Vatican Radio on Wednesday (Feb. 6), Paglia said he had been “very surprised” by the way his words had been reported by “some media.”
“Not only were the words not understood … but in truth, and perhaps knowingly, they were, as it were, derailed,” he said.
For the archbishop, recognizing that “norms that protect individual rights” can find their place in “existing (legal) systems” is “completely different” from approving same-sex marriage.
Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, a lay group for gay Catholics, called Paglia’s apparent backtracking “disheartening.”
However, she emphasized that “real hope on this front comes from the people, not the hierarchy,” as Catholics “continue to grow increasingly supportive of civil recognition of same-sex couples’ relationships.”
In his original remarks, Paglia had been careful to stress that the protection of the rights for unmarried couples shouldn’t be confused with the reaffirmation of the unique value of traditional marriage.
But his words came on the eve of a key vote by the British Parliament on legalizing gay marriage, which passed Tuesday 400-175 with the support of Prime Minister David Cameron.
In his Vatican Radio interview, Paglia said he was “totally supportive” of British bishops, and that he had been equally sympathetic to initiatives by French bishops to attempt to stop the legalization of gay marriage.
4 Comments
Jean-Pierre
If the Archbishop is sincerely expressing a new Vatican policy then that is a very good thing. I will be skeptical until I hear about bishops in countries like Belize and Cameroons coming out in favor of repealing sodomy laws. Until now, these local bishops have been very vocal in opposing any relaxation of oppression of LGBT people.
Pastor Ernie Paul Young PhD
Abomination of Homosexuality
Excommunication from the church for abomination of homosexuality; God Almighty’s word on the matter, also those who encourage this sin are as guilty as you are and in your same damnation, and God Almighty shall judge all. Read all, study, and repent call upon the name of Jesus Christ.
Roman’s chapter one, Roman’s chapter two, First Corinthian’s chapter five, First Corinthians chapter six, Galatians chapter five, Ephesians chapter five, First Timothy chapter one, Leviticus chapter eighteen, verse 22, Leviticus chapter twenty, verse thirteen, Deuteronomy chapter twenty three, verse seventeen and eighteen, Genesis chapter nineteen. To the unlearned Pastors, unlearned souls, and the Ministers of Satan who do try and pervert God Almighty’s Word, to all mankind learn, stop your sin abomination and repent of your sins of homosexuality today in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who loves you but, not your sins.
Do not let Satan’s Ministers tell you it is ok to be actively homosexual; read God’s Holy Word and repent. Amen
Pastor Ernie Paul Young, PhD.
rob
The pigs who run the Catholic cult really need to learn their place in society. They need to run their cult and stay out of politics and people’s lives. They need to be brought up on criminal charges for spreading hate, intolerance, and bigotry. The Catholic Church is one of the most immoral, greedy, hate-mongering institutions in recorded history. From its persecution of Jews and homosexuals, to the Inquisition, to its complicity in the Holocaust (including the fact that the present Pope is a former Nazi), to its complicity in pedophilia and denying the victims appropriate compensation, the Church has shown utter disregard for humanity, decency, morality, and the rule of law. I hope the sex abuse victims sue the Church into bankruptcy. And the Church attacks gays for being immoral? lol. Meanwhile, most of the pedophiles are heterosexual. Well if anyone would know anything about immorality, it’s the Catholic Church. The farther away other Churches get from the fanatical Catholic Church, the better off they’ll be. And why has Interpol not issued a warrant for the Pope’s arrest yet? And if the Church can spend hundreds of millions of dollars on hate campaigns and lawyers to fight victims, they can certainly start paying taxes. Why are the taxpayers underwriting government services for the Church? All countries around the world need to prosecute these degenerate priests and the Church hierarchy that covered the crimes up, expropriate all Church property, and tax the Church.
Leo
Rob, Homosexuality is outlawed, not only by the Catholic Church, but has its origin in the Jewish Torah, namely, Leviticus–try reading it. Most religions, including, Bahai, Hinduism, and Buddhism have reservations about it. The Dalai Lama agrees with the Pope on most sexual issues. Islam simply would
put you to death.
Pope Gregory was not a Nazi and is not a Nazi. What would you do if your government forced you into a youth organization; you would very probably comply, as he had to do.
The Roman Catholic church has pedophile problems, and most of them are committed by homosexuals, and the problems are really ebhephobilia, and they handled it poorly. They handled it the way all organizations handle it, that is, denial and coverup. Witness the Orthodox Jews, the Boy Scouts, Penn State, the Mormons and especially the Baptists. No one has the guts to explore Islam.
Your diatribe is just hate filled, and you wouldn’t dare do it to any organization other than Roman Catholicism.