Francis ‘Pope of Mercy’

In July 2013, returning home from World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Pope Francis was asked about homosexuals in society. His answer: Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord? The short version “who am I to judge” became the most quoted line by any public figure in 2013. A few months later, in his first major text as pontiff, he issued an apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (The Joy of the Gospel) declaring: “I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and clinging to its own security.”

Last week in a documentary “Francesco” that retells the story of Jorge Mario Bergoglio and takes up some of the main themes of his seven-year pontificate, Pope Francis voiced support for same sex unions calling them “children of God” who have the right to a family and should not be made miserable because of it. Even as archbishop of Buenos Aires, he supported some kind of legal protection for the rights of gay couples while voicing opposition to gay marriage. This is the first time as Pope that he has come out publicly in favor of civil unions. Although this issue was not given much publicity, Francis also condemned the Trump administration’s policy on family separation at the United States-Mexico border saying it was cruel and that separating kids from parents was something a Christian cannot do.

Reaction from the Philippines was somewhat muted. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines acting president and Caloocan Bishop Pablo David and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas were not available for comment. CBCP public affairs committee executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano and Archdiocese of Manila Apostolic Bishop Broderick Pabillo refused to comment as they wanted more clarification about the Pope’s statement. From Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said, “The President has always said he is in favor of a law that will recognize the civil union of same-sex relationships.”

Retired Sorsogon bishop Arturo Bastes was quite vocal about the papal opinion calling it a “shocking statement from a Pope.” He added, “I have very serious doubts about the moral correctness of this latest statement of Pope Francis. I am really scandalized by his defense of homosexual union which surely leads to immoral acts.” The good bishop has absolutely no reason to be scandalized. In a book “God is Young” Francis wrote: “It is very important that life include fecundity: We must be open to change and to others’ viewpoints. We need the thoughts and perspectives of others, especially when they tell us something different, something new to us. I say: Do not be afraid of the differences of others or your weaknesses; life is one of a kind and unique for what it is; let us cherish it with love, kindness and spontaneity.”

Pope Francis has always struck me as a “Pope of Mercy.” The line on his coat of arms is “miserando atque eligendo” meaning “choosing by having mercy.” In his first Sunday Mass as Pope at the Vatican’s Saint Anne Church, he said “in my opinion, the strongest message of the Lord is mercy.” Is it any wonder that he takes up the cudgels for those who have less in law simply because of a different sexual orientation?

Each day as part of my early morning rituals, I check out the gospel of the day. Yesterday it was so timely and relevant to the issue on the minds of many Catholics around the world. Matthew revealed that the Pharisees were once again testing the Lord asking Him: Teacher, which commandment in the law is greatest? His reply: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Perhaps that should provide us with some answers. The Lord did not say, love your neighbor who has the same skin color, the same gender, who speaks the same language, who shares the same political philosophy and sexual orientation. He said love your neighbor as yourself — no conditions, no qualifications, no requirements, no restrictions. In calling for legal protection for same-sex unions, Francis is moving us closer to the perfect love for our neighbor that the Lord considers as the second greatest commandment.

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