The Pope Has Spoken on Same-Sex Unions, Palace Tells Congress

Take it from Pope Francis, same-sex civil unions must be legalized, Malacañang on Thursday addressed conservatives in Congress after the Pontiff's most recent statement stirred debate on LGBT families. 

"Even the most conservative of all Catholics in Congress should no longer have a basis for objecting" same-sex unions, President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesperson Harry Roque said. 

"Recognition of civil union has always been supported by the President. Depende na lang iyan sa prayoridad ng ating Kongreso," Roque said during a Palace press briefing.

"With no less than the Pope supporting it, I think even the most conservative of all Catholics in Congress should no longer have a basis for objecting."

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Church leaders of Asia's bastion of Catholicism have yet to react on the Pope's groundbreaking remarks that were made public through a documentary that premiered at the Rome Film Festival.

"These are children of God, they have the right to a family," Francis said in Spanish in the film. "What we have to create is a law of civil union, they have the right to be legally protected. I have defended that." 

Over 85 percent of the Philippines' 100-million strong population is Catholic.