Vatican City: Pope Francis says homosexuality is not a crime and laws that criminalize it are unjust. God loves all His children. He also called on Catholic bishops to welcome LGBTQ persons into the church. The Pope clarified his position in an interview with the Associated Press. Being gay is not a crime.
Pope Francis has acknowledged that Catholic bishops in various parts of the world support laws that criminalize homosexuality and discriminate against LGBTQ individuals. They think it is a sin. But such attitudes can arise from cultural backgrounds. The Pope said that the bishops need to be ready for change so that they recognize the dignity of everyone.
There must be a process of conversion within these bishops. Please show tenderness, the Pope said. 67 countries around the world criminalize homosexuality. Of these, 11 countries carry the death penalty for homosexuality. At the same time, the Pope’s statements in support of homosexuality have been the subject of much debate.
Earlier, the Pope had pointed out that even priests and nuns were watching obscene videos. He stated that not only common people but even priests and nuns are addicted to porn websites on the internet. The Pope also warned that Satan comes that way and that he weakens the soul. The Pope also asked to delete any obscene videos on the mobile phone. The Pope’s words were reported by the leading Italian media La Repubblica.