Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine is predicting that the Church may eventually change its opposition to same-sex marriage.
Kaine is a Catholic and a US senator from Virginia and a former governor of that state. He told the Human Rights Campaign during its national dinner Saturday in Washington that he had changed his mind about same-sex marriage and that his Church may follow suit one day.
“I think it’s going to change because my Church also teaches me about a creator who, in the first chapter of Genesis, surveyed the entire world, including mankind, and said, ‘It is very good,'” Kaine said. He then recalled Pope Francis’s remark that “who am I to judge?” in reference to gay priests.
“I want to add: Who am I to challenge God for the beautiful diversity of the human family? I think we’re supposed to celebrate it, not challenge it,” Kaine said.
While he pledged to fight for increased rights for LGBT Americans, Kaine admitted that he had opposed same-sex marriage until 2005.
“For a long time while I was battling for LGBT equality, I believed that marriage was something different,” he said.
Virginia’s lieutenant governor when state lawmakers pushed for a constitutional amendment to keep marriage between one man and one woman, he recalled speaking to amendment supporters who said they hoped LGBT people would feel so unwelcome that they would move out of Virginia.
“When I heard the proponents describe their motivations, it became clearer to me where I should stand on this,” he said.
Voters approved the amendment in 2006. The US Supreme Court legalised same-sex marriage in all states in June 2015.
Before introducing Kaine, Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin called Republican nominee Donald Trump the “gravest threat” the LGBT community has faced in a presidential election.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.