The Pope has said parents should not condemn their children if they are gay.
Pope Francis, 85, offered the unscripted comments yesterday during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall in Vatican City. He was discussing the challenges of raising kids. In particular, he was talking about parents who have to deal with “sad” situations in their children’s lives, such as them falling sick or being involved in an accident. He then mentioned sexuality.
“Parents who see that their children have different sexual orientations, how they manage that and accompany their children and not hide behind a condemning attitude.”
“Parents who see their children not going to school – so many parents’ problems, we think how to help them. To them I say: don’t be afraid… Never condemn a child,” he said.
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Related: Former priest explains why the Bible does NOT condemn same-sex unions
Although a kid being gay or bisexual should not be seen as something “sad”, telling parents not to “condemn” a child over their sexuality is obviously a good thing. Too often, parents fail to give LGBTQ offspring the support they deserve and need, citing their religion as the reason.
Although official Catholic church doctrine calls homosexuality “intrinsically disordered”, the Pope has made gestures to indicate a more supportive stance. In 2013, he famously said “Who am I to judge” when asked about his attitude towards gay people.
In 2020, he met with a group of parents of gay children and told them, “The Church loves your children as they are, because they are children of God.”
Related: Pope meets with parents of LGBTQ kids and tells them to love their children as they are
That said, as we say, the official Church doctrine has not changed, and the Pope himself has said same-sex marriage is not “part of God’s plan”. Last year, the Vatican also issued guidance reminding Catholic priests they are not allowed to bless same-sex unions, disappointing many gay Catholics.
Ronbo
Thank you for posting this David. Too many people have been hurt by religions and it’s good to show that this Pope understands. While not perfect, he represents a sea change in the Catholic church.
To those who will always attack religions – take comfort in knowing that it gets better. Sometimes it’s better to drop the pain than wallow in it. What you focus upon grows. Grow good things knowing that from shite comes fertilizer and that brings growth.
I personally don’t believe the silly stories; but, I do like the core message of love and acceptance.
Chrisk
Unfortunetly love and acceptance isn’t what most are known for. Just look at who supports trump and the maga movement.
I’d rather just call it nonsense. The only “sea change” that’s going to happen is more and more people identifying as non religious.
Joshooeerr
You are completely wrong. Frankie does not represent any kind of “sea change”. Despite occasionally making comments like this, urging compassion, rather than rejection, it is all smoke and mirrors. Nothing – repeat NOTHING – about the church’s official stance, policy or attitudes around homosexuality has changed. It’s still basically “hate the sin, love the sinner”, which therefore goes on being the basis for most homophobia around the world. Frankie is great at PR, which is precisely why he was appointed – to try and halt the vast numbers finally deserting the church. But otherwise he’s just the same old tart in a different frock.
James Hart
This is NOT a change in Church doctrine by any measure. Since the Roman Catholic Church views homosexuality as a mental disorder/illness (see the Catholic Catechism), it’s not surprising that the Pope would recommend to parents that they treat their gay children with kindness and compassion. According to the Pope’s logic, certainly, a good parent would not mistreat their bipolar daughter or schizophrenic son.
Ronbo
Chrisk would cut off a green thumb to wallow in the blood. Instead of division, grow good things when you can.
And to be correct, there are millions and millions more religious and spiritual people who don’t support tRump or MAGA. You seem to confuse “religious” with the small groups of conservative evangelicals who are promoted in the media and on FOX.
Cam
Small groups? By Small groups you mean the MAJORITY of White American Evangellicals as well as a majority of Mormons?
No surprise that one of the same screenames always defending bigots would try to minimize the evil done to people by religion.
Kangol2
Ronbo, it isn’t just evangelicals. There are the extreme religious right-wing Catholics on the US Supreme Court (Coney Barrett, Alito, Thomas, Kavanaugh, and Roberts, as well as Gorsuch, who was raised Catholic but is now Episcopalian), three of whom were dumped on the court by the psycho fascist traitor Don the Con and two by the Bushes. These fanatics are poised to issue potentially off the charts rulings on a range of issues (abortion, guns, etc.) that are out of line with the beliefs and feelings of the majority of the US population.
Ronbo
Please, never promote the idea that to be religious you MUST vote Republican. That hurts us much, Much, MUCH more than it helps.
Cam
Actually, if you’re truly religious you can’t vote Republican. Voting for hate and bigotry and claiming to be religious is automatically hypocritical.
DarkZephyr
As far as Popes go, this one is probably the most tolerable and almost likeable. I did admire Pope John Paul II when it came to certain things and almost liked him, but I think I almost like this one even better.
Kangol2
John Paul II presided over rampant child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and did comparatively little about it. Look at how he coddled and moved that monstrous Cardinal Bernard Law around rather than holding him accountable as just one example. There are countless others. By comparison Pope Benedict is a breath of new spirit though he also could be doing a lot more.
bachy
Like many here, I was shamed, humiliated, ostracized and emotionally abandoned – as a child, FFS – for being “different” (read: gay). It took decades to find my footing after that depth of childhood trauma.
Many people long for the “good old days” of family unity and religious observance. But they conveniently forget the shadow side of that formula for living: the abject cruelty that was too often used to enforce it.
white-queer-african
Still no SammyBbbb? Very disappointing.
lol
cubcmh
Never condemn a child – but it’s ok to condemn adults? Should we really be judging / condemning anyone? According to the the funny book, “Judgment is [His], sayeth [He].” Hypocrites.
Fahd
I think the current Pope has been doing the Susan Collins – like “on the one hand” and “on the other hand” tightrope walk his entire professional career; ask some Jesuits.
Now that it has been established that still alive Pope Benedict when he was Archbishop of Munich knowingly failed to act when present at a hearing about a sexually abusive priest and thereafter lied and said he was not present at the hearing — it took an independent commission decades later to establish that he was there and did not act to limit the priest’s future activities. Now he says he forgot it was there and that it wasn’t that bad and blah blah blah.
Francis should send Benedict to a monastary to live out his life in penance and prayer.
But of course on the one hand “don’t condemn” but “on the other hand” they are inherently disordered.
If these guys didn’t control so much money and so many people it would be less scary.
JTinToronto
The catholic church does not want the flock or their coffers to decrease. It’s all about money. Can you say “lip service?”
cuteguy
When is the Catholic cult going to end?
Kangol2
There’s a billion Catholics across the globe. The Church is dying in some places (parts of Europe, like Ireland, etc., Latin America, like Brazil, etc.), and surging in others (parts of Africa, etc.). So it’ll be a while before it ends.
Beanie16
Jebus and his crowd have killed and kill more fetuses and children than abortion doctors unfortunately the popes mom didn’t abort him
Cozmo2
Who cares about these chomo priest. They only care about covering up what they have done
Rivcuban
Most American Catholics are Democrats.
James Hart
According to Pew: In 2020, 67% of white Catholics voted for Trump, but 82% of Hispanic Catholics voted for Biden. Plus: The most faithful Catholics – those who attend Mass every Sunday – and fill the Church’s collection baskets – vote overwhelmingly Republican.