Pope Francis said this week that Catholic public officials should not be obliged to celebrate same-sex marriages or civil unions.
His comments come a week after Italy became the last country in Western Europe to provide for same-sex civil partnerships.
In an interview, Francis said:
“Once a law is approved, the state should be respectful of consciences. Conscientious objection must be possible on all legal jurisdictions, because it is a human right.”
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In 2013, on the issue of gay marriage Francis said “who am I to judge?” Last year, he agreed to meet five-times-married Kentucky clerk Kim Davis. Whileh the Vatican played down that meeting, anti-gay litigation group the Liberty Counsel made false claims that Francis had actively sought out a meeting with Davis and offered her unconditional support in her refusal to do her job.
A group of mostly right-wing lawmakers in Italy are in the process of forcing a referendum to overturn the new civil unions law. Their efforts are expected to be unsuccessful.
