Pope Francis says he supports gay civil unions. For many, it's 'exhilarating' but changes little.

DETROIT – Pope Francis dropped a bombshell on Catholics worldwide this week in stating publicly for the first time as pontiff that he supports same-sex civil unions, a pronouncement that was hailed as "exhilarating" and "refreshing" by many in the LGBTQ community and liberal and progressive Catholics.

But the pope's stance doesn't really change anything, manyCatholics said, noting Pope Francis never said he supported same-sex marriage.

He only extended an olive branch to the gay community in a sign of love and charity, many said, much like his famous "Who am I to judge" remark in 2013.

Still, the Pope's latest words are healing and inspiring for couples like Kirsti Reeve and Terry Gonda, who was fired in June from her job as church music director at St. John Fisher in Auburn Hills for marrying a woman. The couple said they were "delighted and encouraged" by the pope's support for gay and lesbian couples.

His words were more than a gesture, they said. His words were a sign of hope.

“Seeing him in his role as pope — on camera — being so clear is exhilarating," said Reeve, 51. "Even if it doesn’t change much, for LGBTQ Catholics who can be jailed or even put to death for being gay in other countries, this is huge. It has a global implication."

Pope Francis became the first pontiff to endorse same-sex civil unions in comments for a documentary titled "Francesco," which premiered Wednesday at the Rome Film Festival. The film offered the pope's views on many issues he is passionate about, including discrimination against marginalized people.

"Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family," the pontiff states in the film. "Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it. What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered.”

Reeve and Gonda noted that Pope Francis had previously expressed support for same-sex civil unions, but not as pope.

"He had already expressed these views as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, but for him to restate them now makes it even more clear and impactful," Gonda said, noting it won't help get her music director job back. "Because we chose to be legally married, rather than a civil partnership, the Pope's statement is unlikely to change anything about (my) firing."

But, Gonda added: "This very public and clear messaging does, however, open up a number of possibilities for dialogue toward new ways of pastoral accompaniment to the LGBT community."

For Father Timothy R. Pelc, 73, a Catholic priest for nearly five decades and pastor at St. Ambrose Parish in Grosse Pointe Park, the pope's stance on same-sex civil unions is part of his "open heart" doctrine.

"He has said from the beginning of his papacy that an open heart should be extended far beyond than what is being done here," Pelc said of Pope Francis. "You need to have an open heart. And obviously protecting people legally and civilly and financially is part of that open heart."

Pelc added: "He has expressed an openness about talking about this. That’s all he’s doing is talking. He's not changing any doctrine."

Chris Kolomjec, an attorney and parishioner at Assumption Grotto Church in Detroit — a staunch conservative parish where some Masses are still performed in Latin — agrees.

"Pope Francis's commentary regarding civil unions in no way changes church doctrine regarding the sacredness of the Marriage sacrament only permitted between one man and one woman," said Kolomjec, 52. "Nobody denies that all people, regardless of sexual attraction, deserve civil protections."

Kolomjec added: "The Holy Father did not recognize marriage for same sex couples but encourages us to seek solutions that protect basic human needs of all."

They went to this church for decades. Did a by-the-book priest drive them away?

Still, many Catholics and LGBTQ advocates are elated over the pope's words and willingness to publicly advocate for love and acceptance of homosexuals.

"We are taught to love God and love one’s neighbor. Pope Francis is showing us all that we can share God’s love, regardless of one’s sexuality," said Clare Conway Hayner, 29, a lifelong Catholic and parishioner at St. Clare of Montefalco in Grosse Pointe Park.

Joe Panici called the pope's message "baby steps for the Catholic Church" but a giant step for the gay community.

"This is huge anyway we look at it," said Panici, 53, who is married to a man and left the Catholic Church two years ago because he felt unwelcomed. He views the pope's words as uplifting — especially the message about homosexuals having a right to be in a family.

"I thought it was great. I loved it. As opposed to being singled out and ostracized from families, he's saying, 'Keep these gay kids in your families,' " Panici said. "I think he realizes what's going on in the world, and all the hate going on. ... He’s hopefully trying to bring people back (to the church) who have left."

As for his return to the Catholic Church, Panici said Pope Francis would have to take a bigger step: "He would have to change the doctrine before I show up."

The Archdiocese of Detroit said very little about Pope Francis's latest comment on same sex couples and unions, and instead deferred to his prior statements about marriage and civil unions.

About the sacrament of marriage, Pope Francis said in 2019: “I have always defended doctrine. It is a contradiction to speak of homosexual marriage.”

In 2014, the pope spoke in more detail about the potential purpose of civil unions: “Marriage is between a man and a woman. Secular states want to validate civil unions to regulate different situations of cohabitation, driven by the need to regulate economic aspects between people, such as ensuring health care. … It is necessary to see the different cases and evaluate them in their variety.”

On the shunning of gay children:

"The Pope has repeatedly said that parents must not disown a child who is gay and has spoken multiple times about the rights of all people to be in a family.

In the same 2019 interview quoted above, he said: “Homosexual persons have a right to be in the family; persons with a homosexual orientation have a right to be in the family and parents have the right to recognize a son or daughter as homosexual; you cannot throw anyone out of the family, nor make life impossible for them.”

All of this is encouraging and uplifting for people like Gonda.

As a married gay woman who continues to attend her church even though she was fired as music director and is now denied Communion at that same church, Gonda clings to the pope's words in the hopes that others in the church will follow them.

"If this were the attitude of the entire church, then people would realize that there are families being separated, that there are people dying by suicide, there are so many lives and communities and families being destroyed," said Gonda, stressing the church needs to see the shunning of gays "as a crisis."

Moreover, she said, it needs to launch an aggressive campaign with the following message: "You are welcome. We support your unions. And you are a beloved of God."

Follow Detroit Free Press courts and legal issues reporter Tresa Baldas on Twitter: @Tbaldas.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pope Francis on same-sex unions: 'Exhilarating,' changes nothing