The Essen Vicar General Klaus Pfeffer has criticized a letter from the Vatican in which statements by Pope Francis on same-sex partnerships are relativized. "To me, this is a disastrous way of communicating," Pfeffer said.
Last month, it became known that Pope Francis had said in a film interview, among other things, that homosexuals had the right to a family. "We must create a law for civil partnerships," Francis said. The remarks sparked a worldwide response and were interpreted by leading theologians as a clear course correction by the pope.
In the letter, which has now become known and is available to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the Vatican addresses the chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Georg Batzing, through its diplomatic representation in Berlin. The letter was also sent to bishops in other countries.
The Vatican states, among other things, that the pope's statements were from 2019 and were edited together in the film "to take them out of context". The Church's teaching on this subject has been "confirmed many times over the years," read: unchanged.
"Sheds very bad light on the Vatican"
Pfeffer, who holds the second highest position – after bishop – in the Essen diocese, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur on the matter.: "The Pope speaks out in a film apparently authorized by the Vatican. This then triggers corresponding reactions in the public, and as a result the Vatican feels called to interpret the Pope's statements, in other words: to tone them down."
She said that was similar to government spokesman Steffen Seibert retracting statements made by Chancellor Angela Merkel in part after the fact. "This casts a very bad light on the Vatican and damages the Pope," criticized Pfeffer.
"It would have been much better to leave the statements as they were. The pope had sent an important philanthropic signal.
Why does this have to be put back into perspective now? So once again homosexual people are hurt."In addition, he sees the church in this topic also in a global responsibility, said Pfeffer: "In many countries, people with homosexual orientation must fear for their lives. So I think it would be appropriate to send a clear signal of acceptance here."