Pope Frances urges parents to support their gay children
By Philip Pullella Reuters
Posted January 26, 2022
Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass, at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Friday Dec. 24, 2021. AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
Pope Francis said on Wednesday that parents of gay children should not condemn them but offer them support.
He spoke in unscripted comments at his weekly audience in reference to difficulties that parents can face in raising offspring.
Those issues included “parents who see different sexual orientations in their children and how to handle this, how to accompany their children, and not hide behind an attitude of condemnation,” Francis said.
He has previously said that gays have a right to be accepted by their families as children and siblings.
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He has also said that while the Church cannot accept same-sex marriage it can support civil union laws aimed at giving gay partners joint rights in areas of pensions and health care and inheritance issues.
Last year, the Vatican’s doctrinal office issued a document saying that Catholic priests cannot bless same-sex unions, a ruling that greatly disappointed gay Catholics.
In some countries, such as the United States and Germany, parishes and ministers had begun blessing same-sex unions in lieu of marriage, and there have been calls for bishops to de facto institutionalise these.
Pope Francis said on Wednesday that parents of gay children should not condemn them but offer them support.
He spoke in unscripted comments at his weekly audience in reference to difficulties that parents can face in raising offspring.
Those issues included “parents who see different sexual orientations in their children and how to handle this, how to accompany their children, and not hide behind an attitude of condemnation,” Francis said.
He has previously said that gays have a right to be accepted by their families as children and siblings.
READ MORE: Calgary’s Catholic bishop optimistic about reconciliation after meeting with Pope Francis
He has also said that while the Church cannot accept same-sex marriage it can support civil union laws aimed at giving gay partners joint rights in areas of pensions and health care and inheritance issues.
Last year, the Vatican’s doctrinal office issued a document saying that Catholic priests cannot bless same-sex unions, a ruling that greatly disappointed gay Catholics.
In some countries, such as the United States and Germany, parishes and ministers had begun blessing same-sex unions in lieu of marriage, and there have been calls for bishops to de facto institutionalise these.
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Conservatives in the 1.3 billion-member Church have said the pope – who has sent notes of appreciation to priests and nuns who minister to gay Catholics – is giving mixed signals on homosexuality, confusing some of the faithful.
Last month, a Vatican department apologized for “causing pain to the entire LGBTQ community” by removing from its website a link to resource material from a Catholic gay rights advocacy group in preparation for a Vatican meeting in 2023 on the Church’s future direction.
The Church teaches that gays should be treated with respect and that, while same-sex acts are sinful, same-sex tendencies are not.
Conservatives in the 1.3 billion-member Church have said the pope – who has sent notes of appreciation to priests and nuns who minister to gay Catholics – is giving mixed signals on homosexuality, confusing some of the faithful.
Last month, a Vatican department apologized for “causing pain to the entire LGBTQ community” by removing from its website a link to resource material from a Catholic gay rights advocacy group in preparation for a Vatican meeting in 2023 on the Church’s future direction.
The Church teaches that gays should be treated with respect and that, while same-sex acts are sinful, same-sex tendencies are not.
(Reporting by Philip Pullella; editing by John Stonestreet)
Pope Francis urges parents not to ‘condemn’ children for their sexual orientation
Pope Francis encouraged parents instead to have the courage to help and accompany them.
Lidia Maksymowicz, a Holocaust survivor who was prisoner in the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, left, meets Pope Francis at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
January 26, 2022
By Claire Giangravé
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis encouraged parents of LGBTQ children to come alongside and help their children rather than stand in judgment of them during his weekly audience with faithful on Wednesday at the Vatican.
While addressing the challenges many parents face when raising children, Francis mentioned “parents who see different sexual orientations in their children” who must learn “to handle this and accompany their children and not hide behind a condemning attitude.”
This isn’t the first time the pope has called for more compassionate understanding for LGBTQ individuals by Catholic faithful and the church in general. Starting with his now famous quote “who am I to judge?” in response to questions regarding gay clergy in 2013, Pope Francis has become synonymous with a greater openness and welcoming of LGBTQ people in the church.
In a 2019 interview with the Mexican broadcaster Televisa, the pope voiced support for civil unions for same-sex couples. Francis has also met personally with LGBTQ individuals at the Vatican where he reportedly told them they are loved and welcomed by God. On several occasions, the pope has written letters of support for Catholics who minister to LGBTQ communities, including F. James Martin and Sister Jeannine Gramick.
The pope has also urged Catholics not to discriminate against transgender people, whom he described as “the lepers of today” in a 2020 letter to an Argentinian nun who provides safe housing for transgender women.
Despite Francis’ pastoral approach toward the LGBTQ community, there have been no changes to the official doctrine of the Catholic Church, which views homosexuality as “intrinsically disordered” and homosexual acts as a “sin.”
The Vatican’s doctrine watchdog agency, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a document in March of last year — signed by Pope Francis — prohibiting priests from blessing same-sex couples, stating the church “cannot bless sin.”
The pope has also been an outspoken critic of gender theory, describing it as a form of “ideological colonization” where the economically developed countries impose liberal views on family and sexuality on poorer countries in exchange for aid.
RELATED: Vatican rises to Benedict XVI’s defense after Munich abuse report
Francis’ comments on Wednesday were made in the context of his reflections on St. Joseph, stepfather to Jesus, whom the pope praised as an example for parents raising children through the challenges of life.
“I think also about parents facing their children’s problems. Children with many diseases, children who are sick, even with permanent illnesses,” he said. Francis spoke about parents who lose their children due to illness or accidents but also parents who struggle watching their children fail in school or in life.
“Never condemn a child,” the pope said, recalling the many mothers who waited in line to visit their children in prison in his home diocese of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Francis praised the “courage of dads and moms who always accompany children. Let’s ask the Lord to give all fathers and all mothers this courage which he gave Joseph.”
Pope Francis encouraged parents instead to have the courage to help and accompany them.
Lidia Maksymowicz, a Holocaust survivor who was prisoner in the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, left, meets Pope Francis at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
January 26, 2022
By Claire Giangravé
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis encouraged parents of LGBTQ children to come alongside and help their children rather than stand in judgment of them during his weekly audience with faithful on Wednesday at the Vatican.
While addressing the challenges many parents face when raising children, Francis mentioned “parents who see different sexual orientations in their children” who must learn “to handle this and accompany their children and not hide behind a condemning attitude.”
This isn’t the first time the pope has called for more compassionate understanding for LGBTQ individuals by Catholic faithful and the church in general. Starting with his now famous quote “who am I to judge?” in response to questions regarding gay clergy in 2013, Pope Francis has become synonymous with a greater openness and welcoming of LGBTQ people in the church.
In a 2019 interview with the Mexican broadcaster Televisa, the pope voiced support for civil unions for same-sex couples. Francis has also met personally with LGBTQ individuals at the Vatican where he reportedly told them they are loved and welcomed by God. On several occasions, the pope has written letters of support for Catholics who minister to LGBTQ communities, including F. James Martin and Sister Jeannine Gramick.
The pope has also urged Catholics not to discriminate against transgender people, whom he described as “the lepers of today” in a 2020 letter to an Argentinian nun who provides safe housing for transgender women.
Despite Francis’ pastoral approach toward the LGBTQ community, there have been no changes to the official doctrine of the Catholic Church, which views homosexuality as “intrinsically disordered” and homosexual acts as a “sin.”
The Vatican’s doctrine watchdog agency, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a document in March of last year — signed by Pope Francis — prohibiting priests from blessing same-sex couples, stating the church “cannot bless sin.”
The pope has also been an outspoken critic of gender theory, describing it as a form of “ideological colonization” where the economically developed countries impose liberal views on family and sexuality on poorer countries in exchange for aid.
RELATED: Vatican rises to Benedict XVI’s defense after Munich abuse report
Francis’ comments on Wednesday were made in the context of his reflections on St. Joseph, stepfather to Jesus, whom the pope praised as an example for parents raising children through the challenges of life.
“I think also about parents facing their children’s problems. Children with many diseases, children who are sick, even with permanent illnesses,” he said. Francis spoke about parents who lose their children due to illness or accidents but also parents who struggle watching their children fail in school or in life.
“Never condemn a child,” the pope said, recalling the many mothers who waited in line to visit their children in prison in his home diocese of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Francis praised the “courage of dads and moms who always accompany children. Let’s ask the Lord to give all fathers and all mothers this courage which he gave Joseph.”
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