Vatican's former chief liturgist supports legal recognition of same-sex unions
April 22, 2013
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Archbishop Piero Marini, the president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, has voiced his support for legal recognition of same-sex unions.
“It is necessary to recognize the union of persons of the same sex, because there are many couples that suffer because their civil rights aren’t recognized,” the Italian archbishop said during an interview in Costa Rica, where a National Eucharistic Congress is being held.
During the same interview Archbishop Marini praised changes made at the Vatican by Pope Francis, saying “there’s a different air of freedom, a church that’s closer to the poor and less problematic.” That comment appeared to be an indirect criticism of Pope Benedict XVI, who had removed Archbishop Marini from his previous position as master of ceremonies for pontifical liturgical celebrations.
Archbishop Marini—who was once private secretary to Archbishop Annibale Bugnini, the chief architect of the liturgical reforms following Vatican II—supervised the planning of liturgical celebrations at the Vatican from 1987 until 2007. Pope Benedict, whose preference for a more traditional approach to the liturgy was well known, replaced him with Msgr. Guido Marini (no relation), who continues in that post today.
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Posted by: Bernadette -
Apr. 22, 2013 7:46 PM ET USA
He's a progressive and was never for true reform of the liturgy. Along with Bugnini, he is more for protestantizing the Church. Of course, he would feel that in Benedict's watch the Church took steps backward.
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Posted by: deery4323 -
Apr. 22, 2013 6:16 PM ET USA
Sad indeed! Clearly he has not read the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's statement "Considerations regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homesexual Persons", written by then Cardinal Ratzinger. It could not have been more clear. If you are interested, it can be found here: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html
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Posted by: lovison4584 -
Apr. 22, 2013 5:58 PM ET USA
It seems the next step after allowing civil same-sex unions will be civil persecution of churches not allowing same-sex marriage. Will Pope Francis take the firm stand he did as Cardinal? Is it still "a destructive pretension against the plan of God...a move by the Father of Lies which aims to confuse & deceive the children of God" or is it OK now? I look forward to the end of the Papal honeymoon when our Holy Father writes a moto proprio,encyclical,apostolic letter, something.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Apr. 22, 2013 5:36 PM ET USA
Let's see. Marini, Piero that is, was secretary to Bugnini who engineered the brilliant liturgical reforms that followed Vatican II. Then he managed to get himself fired by Pope Benedict, perhaps for following in Bugnini's footsteps, the brilliant ones, I mean. Now he favors legally recognizing sinful housing arrangements so that no one's feelings are hurt. Is it still three strikes and you're out?
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Posted by: Defender -
Apr. 22, 2013 4:00 PM ET USA
Makes one think that, as secretary to a liturgical reformer, Archbishop Marini continues to take "reform" to a level that can in no way be condoned. As much as it is gratifying to know such splitting of hairs isn't confined to US clergy, it's depressing overall to know that there are so many who defy the magisterium and spread heresy across the Church.
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Posted by: ltoscan2645 -
Apr. 22, 2013 2:59 PM ET USA
EXTREMELY sad and upset when I read these comments this morning and his summation of the last years' ( which I take to mean under the papacy of Benedict XVI) state of the Church on another website..I pray that he has been misquoted for these comments are not worthy of a Catholic let alone an Archbishop...God have mercy on us!
