Jakarta –
Pope Francis in an exclusive interview with the AP on Tuesday (24/01) criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as “unjust”, saying that God loves all His children as they are.
He also called on Catholic bishops who support the law to accept LGBTQ people into the church.
“Homosexuality is not a crime,” he said in the interview.
Pope Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some parts of the world still discriminate against LGBTQ people and support laws that criminalize homosexuality. However, he attributed such attitudes to cultural backgrounds, and said bishops needed to undergo a process of change to recognize the dignity of each person.
“These bishops must have a process of repentance,” he said, adding they must apply “tenderness, like that which God has for each of us.”
First in papal history
Pope Francis’ remarks on the LGBTQ law, hailed by gay rights advocates as a historic milestone, are the first ever uttered by a pope. This statement is consistent with his overall approach to LGBTQ people, whereby the Catholic Church must accept all people and not discriminate.
Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said gay people must be accepted and respected, and must not be marginalized or discriminated against.
“We are all children of God, and God loves us for who we are and loves us for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity,” he said.
Sin and evil
In that interview, Pope Francis also emphasized that there needs to be a distinction between crime and sin, in relation to homosexuality. While Church teaching holds that homosexuality is sinful, or “intrinsically disordered,” gay people must be treated with respect and dignity.
Pope Francis said: “Yes, it is not a crime. But it is a sin,” he said referring to the issue. “But first let’s distinguish between sin and evil,” he added.
Pope Francis’ statement does not specifically address transgender or non-binary people, only homosexuality. Even so, advocates of LGBTQ inclusion in the Church hailed the pope’s comments as an important step forward. gtp/as (AP)
See also ‘Japan Prohibits Same-Sex Marriage’:
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