[SuziQ]

But confusingly – and I still can't quite figure this out in my head – he did clearly back civil partnerships as the lesser of two evils.

Civil partnerships would benefit other folks than homosexuals. Widowed women could form a civil union with an elderly son, or it could be two elderly sisters, for the purposes of taxation, property ownership, or whatever. It could have nothing whatsoever to do with sex. And the Pope was trying to save traditional marriage, not have it diminished by homosexual activists.

[Mrs. Don-o]

And apparently (as) Archbishop, Bergoglio didn't realize that civil unions could strengthen gay couples' case for adoption of children.

This is truly--- oh, there's no other word than "perverse".