Cardinal defends homosexual marriage legislation
Cardinal Godfried Danneels defends a legal regulation of same-sex marriage in an interview with De Tijd, although he believes another term should be found for same-sex relationships. Archbishop Leonard joins him. 'Don't call it gay marriage, call it a same-sex union.'
De Tijd spoke to Godfried Danneels on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Mass demonstrations have been taking place in France for months against gay marriage, which has now been accepted by parliament. On Wednesday, the first legal marriage was blessed there, heavily protected from protesters. Asked what he thinks of his Church's stance in that discussion, Danneels said: 'You know what the Church says about those problems, I don't have to draw you a picture. But I think it is a positive evolution that states are free to open civil marriage to gays if they want to.'
The reasoning goes like this: 'You can't identify a person with their orientation, can you? I think there is a clear evolution within the Church's thinking. Also towards people who commit suicide, for example. This used to be targeted to such an extent that you couldn't be buried in a churchyard - that's not acceptable, of course! People are thinking in a much more nuanced way about the person as a whole rather than being blinded by the moral principle.'
Politically sensitive
Gay marriage is currently politically sensitive in several European countries. The British parliament is considering opening civil marriage to same-sex couples. In Paris, hundreds of thousands of people are taking to the streets against same-sex marriage. Recently, in front of the main altar of Notre Dame, historian, Dominique Venner put a bullet through his head in protest against same-sex marriage. Nineteen countries, including Belgium, have already opened up civil marriage; dozens more will follow in the coming years.
Danneels has a reputation for being ahead of the troops. Like in 2004, when he stirred up the Vatican by declaring that someone who is HIV-positive should better use a condom when having sex. On gay marriage, he is clear, albeit cautiously: 'It is positive if states want to regulate same-sex relationships, but for the Church it is not the real marriage, between a man and a woman. So you have to put another name in the dictionary. But that it is legal, that one can do it legally legitimately, the Church has nothing to say about that.'
Commitment
'What Danneels says is remarkable. He creates a curious opening here, because the institution currently opposes civil marriage, which also regulates and legitimises same-sex sexual relations,' says Rik Torfs, professor of canon law and rector-elect of KuLeuven. Paul Van Geest, professor of church history and his colleague at Tilburg University, puts things in perspective. 'There is the story carried by the New York Times that the current pope, Jorge Bergoglio, as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, worked behind the scenes for legal rights for gay couples and for civil union, a battle he lost within the Argentine bishops' conference. The statements fit into a turnaround within the Vatican'.
Archbishop André Léonard also concurs with Danneels. 'Danneels' position is also that of the Archbishop,' responded Jeroen Moens, spokesman for the Archdiocese. 'Monsignor Léonard has no problem with a legal union between gays. But he does not want to call it marriage. Let us say that Monsignor Léonard endorses a gay commitment. Marriage, for the Church, is about the complementarity of man and woman. Such complementarity is impossible between two people of the same sex.'
In other words, Danneels is not the only Church authority figure who recently reached out to gay couples. For example, Archbishop Piero Marini, the papal master of ceremonies promoted away by Benedict XVI, recently let slip that 'it is time to recognise same-sex relationships because many couples suffer from not having their civil rights recognised.' Similar words were spoken earlier this year by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family - before he was recalled.
Cathcon- Archbishop Leonard is in theory at least meant to be a conservative. Like origami, turn a conservative inside out and you get a liberal. You cannot do that with tradition.
See also
.jpeg)
Comments