“Your right hand saves me,” affirms the psalmist this Sunday, secure in the protection of the Lord. Laws around the world should provide some protection against discrimination for non-married couples, including same-sex couples, affirmed Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, head of the Pontifical Council for the Family on Monday, even as he reaffirmed the official church’s opposition to same-sex marriage.

In his first press conference since his appointment to head the Vatican office on the family, Paglia conceded that there are several kinds of “cohabitation forms that do not constitute a family” and that their number is growing worldwide. He suggested that nations could find “private law solutions” to help individuals who live in non-matrimonial relations “to prevent injustice and make their life easier.”

Paglia strongly condemned discrimination against gay people, who he said “have the same dignity as all of God’s children. . . . In the world there are 20 or 25 countries where homosexuality is a crime,” Paglia said. “I would like the church to fight against all this.”

Homily hint: With this announcement the church is not changing its teaching on same-sex marriage but it is pointing out that the legal status of non-married couples is a justice issue. Talking about that distinction and perhaps applying it to other situations might useful for the assembly.

Source: An article by Alessandro Speciale for Religion News Service