Pope Francis’ comments about same-sex civil unions provoked a wide variety of responses from prelates in the United States, with the Pope’s critics seizing on the comments as more evidence that he was harming the Church.
“The church is weak. The church is not clear,” said Tyler, Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland in an interview. “What's getting broadcast around the world is Pope Francis' opinion on this, and I think that is confusing and very dangerous.” Strickland also alleged that a “deep state” exists in both the U.S. and the Vatican. He called the delay in releasing a report on former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick “evil” although he gave no reason for thinking the report has been delayed intentionally. “I certainly don't put it all on Pope Francis,” he said of the delay. “The machine of the Vatican, there is evil there. There is darkness in the Vatican. I mean, that's very clear.”
San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone noted that during his ad limina visit with the pope last January, the pope “clearly differentiated” between civil unions and marriage. “I would add that a civil union of this type (one which is not equated to marriage) should be as inclusive as possible, and not be restricted to two people of the same sex in a presumed sexual relationship,” he said. “There is no reason, for example, why a brother and a sister, both of whom are unmarried and support each other, should not have access to these kinds of benefits.”
In 1997, Cordileone’s predecessor, Archbishop, later-Cardinal, William Levada proposed the “Levada solution” when the city government required all agencies that contract with the state to extend same sex partner benefits to employees. With the approval of the Vatican Levada approved a compromise by which any legally domiciled person living with someone who worked for such an agency could receive benefits comparable to those given a marital spouse.
Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley noted that the pope had not changed any doctrine with his comments but highlighted the pope’s pastoral concern. “The Holy Father is very aware of the suffering and alienation of homosexual individuals, gay people, who are rejected by family and society,” O’Malley said “He is also keenly aware of the parents and loved ones who also suffer because a member of their family is bullied or marginalized for being different.”
Sr Jeannine Gramick, who founded New Ways Ministry that advocates for full acceptance of gays in the life of the church, said: “This is wonderful news for the LGBT community and for their families. What Pope Francis is telling us is that lesbian and gay people are part of families. He's holding up family values and this is so important.”
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