Pope Francis: Defender of Marriage and the Family
Pope Francis
During his years of leadership in Buenos Aires, Argentinean
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (now Pope Francis) boldly
defended marriage, the natural family, and the right of
children to have a father and a mother. His courage and
leadership were on display most vividly in the summer of
2010, when the Argentina legislature debated, and
ultimately passed, a law that redefined marriage to include
two persons of the same sex.
defended marriage, the natural family, and the right of
children to have a father and a mother. His courage and
leadership were on display most vividly in the summer of
2010, when the Argentina legislature debated, and
ultimately passed, a law that redefined marriage to include
two persons of the same sex.
Episcopal Leadership
Knowing that a marriage redefinition bill was on the horizon,
in April 2010 the Argentinean Episcopal Conference, of
which Cardinal Bergoglio was president (2005-
2011), published a statement on marriage: “On the
Unalterable Good of Marriage and the Family.” In the
statement, the bishops wrote that “the union of people of the
same sex lacks the biological and anthropological elements
that are proper to marriage and family.”
in April 2010 the Argentinean Episcopal Conference, of
which Cardinal Bergoglio was president (2005-
2011), published a statement on marriage: “On the
Unalterable Good of Marriage and the Family.” In the
statement, the bishops wrote that “the union of people of the
same sex lacks the biological and anthropological elements
that are proper to marriage and family.”
The bishops also responded to the oft-leveled charge of
discrimination, pointing out that “the recognition of a real
difference is not discrimination.” Continuing, they wrote,
“Nature doesn’t discriminate when it makes us a man or a
woman. Our Civil Code does not discriminate when it
demands the requirement of being a man and a woman to
contract marriage; it only recognizes a natural reality.”
discrimination, pointing out that “the recognition of a real
difference is not discrimination.” Continuing, they wrote,
“Nature doesn’t discriminate when it makes us a man or a
woman. Our Civil Code does not discriminate when it
demands the requirement of being a man and a woman to
contract marriage; it only recognizes a natural reality.”
Importance of Prayer
As the debate and vote on the marriage redefinition bill drew
closer, Cardinal Bergoglio wrote a letter to Carmelite nuns in
Argentina, enlisting their prayers and sacrifices, which he
called “the two invincible weapons of Santa Teresa,” a
reference to the founder of the Carmelite order, St. Teresa of
Avila.
closer, Cardinal Bergoglio wrote a letter to Carmelite nuns in
Argentina, enlisting their prayers and sacrifices, which he
called “the two invincible weapons of Santa Teresa,” a
reference to the founder of the Carmelite order, St. Teresa of
Avila.
In his letter, Cardinal Bergoglio wrote, “In the coming
weeks,
the Argentine people will face a situation whose
outcome can
seriously harm the family.” He then detailed what was at
stake with the bill’s potential passage:
weeks,
the Argentine people will face a situation whose
outcome can
seriously harm the family.” He then detailed what was at
stake with the bill’s potential passage:
At stake is the identity and survival of the family:
father, mother and children. At stake are the lives of
many children who will be discriminated against in
advance, and deprived of their human development
given by a father and a mother and willed by God. At
stake is the total rejection of God’s law engraved in
our hearts.
The Cardinal also highlighted the fact that advocating
for the authentic meaning of marriage is not just about
politics, but is a struggle between truth and deception, a
real spiritual warfare: “Let us not be naive: this is not
simply a political struggle, but it is an attempt to destroy
God’s plan. It is not just a bill (a mere instrument) but a
‘move’ of the father of lies who seeks to confuse and
deceive the children of God.”
Concluding, Cardinal Bergoglio implored the
intercession of the Holy Family: “We look to Saint
Joseph, Mary and the Child Jesus and ask that they
fervently defend the family in Argentina at this particular
time.”
Education and Mobilization of the People
Cardinal Bergoglio did not discount the importance of
ongoing education of the Catholic faithful, or the need for a
vocal, visible opposition to the marriage redefinition bill. On
the Sunday before the legislature’s consideration of the
marriage redefinition bill, the Argentine Bishops’ statement
on marriage was read at masses in Buenos Aires.
ongoing education of the Catholic faithful, or the need for a
vocal, visible opposition to the marriage redefinition bill. On
the Sunday before the legislature’s consideration of the
marriage redefinition bill, the Argentine Bishops’ statement
on marriage was read at masses in Buenos Aires.
The Cardinal also exhorted the Catholics of Argentina to
participate in a march and demonstration in Buenos
Aires.He specifically appealed to parish priests, rectors, and
chaplains to encourage participation in the march.
All Catholic participants were advised by Cardinal Bergoglio
to maintain a positive message, carrying only Argentinean
flags or positive slogans for man-woman marriage. The
slogan for the march was “We Want a Mom and Dad for our
Children.”
Opposition to the marriage redefinition bill was
strong. Catholic News Agency reported that 200,000
Argentineans gathered to protest the bill. Earlier in the
month, around 635,000 people had signed petitions
opposing the bill; their signatures were presented to the
Argentinean Senate.
strong. Catholic News Agency reported that 200,000
Argentineans gathered to protest the bill. Earlier in the
month, around 635,000 people had signed petitions
opposing the bill; their signatures were presented to the
Argentinean Senate.
Ecumenical Cooperation
Cardinal Bergoglio collaborated with other Christians in
Argentina to protest the marriage redefinition bill.
Specifically, the pro-marriage march included leadership
from not only the Catholic Church but also evangelical and
pentecostal groups (see footnote 41 on page 9). Cardinal
Bergoglio joined leaders from these Christian communities
in writing a letter that was read during the demonstration.
Together, the authors wrote, “Marriage is an essential
institution for our society and constitutes the basic structure
upon which it is built. It is the fundamental responsibility of
our political representatives to protect it and promote it, to
legally preserve it as it is, the union between one man and
one woman ordered toward mutual help, procreation, the
fulfillment and happiness of spouses, the satisfaction of life
in its fullness and the raising of children.”
Engaging a Hostile Culture
Unfortunately, Argentina passed the marriage redefinition
bill by a vote of 33 to 27 in the Senate. The vote made
Argentina the first country in Latin America to redefine
marriage to include two persons of the same sex.
bill by a vote of 33 to 27 in the Senate. The vote made
Argentina the first country in Latin America to redefine
marriage to include two persons of the same sex.
Since the passage of marriage redefinition legislature in
2010, Argentina has supported other measures that run
contrary to an authentic understanding of the human
person, marriage, and the family. In 2011, the Argentinean
governmentdistributed millions of copies of a “sexual
education” guide produced by the United Nations, which
taught readers about different types of families, including
those with a father and a mother, those with only a father or
a mother, and those with two fathers and mothers. “None of
these families are better or worse than the others,” says the
guide.
And in 2012, the Argentine legislature passed a bill that
permits individuals to legally change their gender at will,
regardless of their physiological sex, without enlisting
surgery or hormonal treatment, and without the approval of
a judge. The bill also included provisions for taxpayer-
covered sex reassignment surgeries at public hospitals.
According to the bill, gender is defined under the law as
“the experience of gender as each person feels it, whether
or not it corresponds with the sex assigned at birth.”
permits individuals to legally change their gender at will,
regardless of their physiological sex, without enlisting
surgery or hormonal treatment, and without the approval of
a judge. The bill also included provisions for taxpayer-
covered sex reassignment surgeries at public hospitals.
According to the bill, gender is defined under the law as
“the experience of gender as each person feels it, whether
or not it corresponds with the sex assigned at birth.”
Engaging an Anti-Catholic Culture
Argentina has known its share of anti-Catholic
persecution too. In a November 2012New York
Times article describing gay pride parades in Argentina,
the author writes of the most recent march, “There were
brief clashes with some Catholic activists who were
protecting the cathedral from vandals; in
previous years, the building had been spray-painted
with anti-clerical slogans.” He adds, “The event was
exhilarating.”
[Link withheld because the article includes an
inappropriate
picture.]
persecution too. In a November 2012New York
Times article describing gay pride parades in Argentina,
the author writes of the most recent march, “There were
brief clashes with some Catholic activists who were
protecting the cathedral from vandals; in
previous years, the building had been spray-painted
with anti-clerical slogans.” He adds, “The event was
exhilarating.”
[Link withheld because the article includes an
inappropriate
picture.]
In fact, on March 12, 2013, the day before Cardinal
Bergoglio
was elected Pope Francis, the cathedral in Buenos Aires
was occupied for four hours by drum-beating protestors
who opposed city subsidies for Catholic schools. A
mass in honor of the Conclave had to be cancelled.
Bergoglio
was elected Pope Francis, the cathedral in Buenos Aires
was occupied for four hours by drum-beating protestors
who opposed city subsidies for Catholic schools. A
mass in honor of the Conclave had to be cancelled.
Pope Francis, then, is no stranger to engaging with a
hostile culture and seeking to evangelize in the midst of
worldly powers strongly opposed to key tenets of
Catholic teaching.
Given his demonstrated zeal for the beautiful teachings
of the Church on marriage and the family, it will be
exciting to see how Pope Francis continues to
evangelize on the meaning of human love, sexuality,
and marriage. Our prayers are with
you, Holy Father!
hostile culture and seeking to evangelize in the midst of
worldly powers strongly opposed to key tenets of
Catholic teaching.
Given his demonstrated zeal for the beautiful teachings
of the Church on marriage and the family, it will be
exciting to see how Pope Francis continues to
evangelize on the meaning of human love, sexuality,
and marriage. Our prayers are with
you, Holy Father!
The media likes to take Pope Francis statements out of context, or leave out statements that clarify his and the Church's position on marriage from the foundation of the Church by Jesus Christ Himself.
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