As the Catholic world continues to buzz about the comments Pope Francis is portrayed as making in a documentary film by Evgeny Afineevsky, claims have come from different quarters, of film footage-manipulation and editorial montage that make the pope appear to say something he did not say, or at least to say the things he appears to have said in a very different order from that in which he actually said them. The Vatican communications outfits have so far issued no clarification on behalf of the Holy Father. Here is how the story has unfolded, as of Friday mid-day. News breaks and develops The furore erupted Wednesday afternoon, when reports began to reach readers with sensational headlines announcing a major change in Church discipline regarding civil unions for same-sex couples. In the most oft-impugned film clip, the Pope is heard to say:
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Documentary plot thickens: narratives compete amid Vatican silence
Controversy over papal support for civil unions continues without Vatican clarification
Christopher R. Altieri

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