By Fr. Jamie Forsythe
That was the big news that shook the Catholic world. As you would expect, it was met with enthusiasm from some and cries of heresy from others. Either the Church is moving forward into a broader understanding of God’s love, or it is turning away from God and being led by the Prince of the World. But in reality, it is neither new news nor really good news.
In 2010 when Francis was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis advocated for civil unions. In a 2014 interview, he explained that states “want to justify civil unions to regulate different situations of coexistence, driven by the need to regulate economic aspects between people, such as ensuring healthcare. These are coexistence agreements of various kinds, of which I cannot list the different forms.” So, Francis’ recognition is not new for him, but it is the first time that a pope has supported the need for civil unions for same-sex couples, so that is good.
“Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it. What we have to have is a civil union law – that way they are legally covered. I supported that.” While Francis stated that this is good news, the motive behind the sentiment is not. Francis sees supporting civil unions as a means to preserve the sanctity of marriage as between a man and a woman. Francis supports same-sex unions as a means to deny same-sex marriage. While on a state level the two may be similar, in the church world they are drastically different.
For the Church, marriage is a sacrament, instituted by Christ to instill grace. In Roman Catholic theology, Jesus becomes intimately involved in the union of the married partners. There is a special grace and presence bestowed by the sacrament. A civil union does not, in the view of the Church, bestow that sacramental presence. While the state recognizes the union, God does not.
In the National Catholic Church of North America, of which Holy Angels is the mother church, we have held for over 10 years that the union of any two Christian persons is a sacrament. We believe that Jesus desires, and is, a part of that union. We believe that God blesses the couple and promises them special graces so that they may grow deeper together in the bond of love, the bonds of God’s love.
The statement by Francis is indeed a major step forward from the Roman Church. Let us hope and pray that it is the first step of our journey to a fuller understanding of God’s love over Dogma!
May God’s richest blessings be yours, may the Holy Angels watch over and protect you.
– Fr. Jamie and Holy Angels
