Pope Francis retains firm stance on gay marriage
Print Edition
Pope Francis yesterday reaffirmed Catholic opposition to gay marriage as he opened a three-week gathering of bishops from around the world, but said the Church had to show love and understanding toward all.
Francis presided at a solemn Mass in Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica to open the meeting, known as a synod, on the theme of the family in the modern world.
The run-up to the event, which is attended by about 300 bishops and other delegates, has been dominated by gay issues.
On the eve of the gathering, the Vatican dismissed a Polish priest from his Holy See job after he came out as gay and called for changes in Catholic teachings against homosexual activity.
Conservative Catholics held a conference in Rome just before the synod started on how homosexuals can live by Church鈥檚 rules that they should be chaste while Catholic gay activists held another demanding acceptance of active gays in the Church.
Francis dedicated a third of his homily to the topic of love between man and woman and its role in procreation.
鈥淭his is God鈥檚 dream for his beloved creation: to see it fulfilled in the loving union between a man and a woman, rejoicing in their shared journey, fruitful in their mutual gift of self,鈥 he said.
He spoke also of the 鈥渢rue meaning of the couple and of human sexuality in God鈥檚 plan,鈥 a clear reference to heterosexual marriage.
He said also that the Church must be more welcoming, charitable, compassionate and merciful to people, particularly those whose lives have been wounded. The person 鈥渨ho falls or errs must be understood and loved,鈥 he said.
In its explanation of the firing of the Polish monsignor on Saturday, the Vatican said his very public coming out was intended to put undue media pressure on the synod on gay issues, which are expected to be only a small part of the bishops鈥 discussions.
The story made the front page of nearly all Italian newspapers, with one headline calling it 鈥淎n Earthquake in the Vatican.鈥
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