Pope Francis declared on Monday that it was not his place to judge homosexuals and said they should not be marginalised but condemned the gay lobby as a “serious problem”.
The remarks — made to journalists as he flew back to Rome from a trip to Brazil — appeared to be more conciliatory towards homosexuals than his predecessor Benedict XVI.
“If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?” he said
“The problem is not having this orientation, it is lobbying. That’s the most serious problem I think.”
Francis had to field questions about Battista Ricca, who was appointed by the pontiff to a key position at the troubled Vatican bank, but is embroiled in allegations that he had gay relationships with male prostitutes.
The pope said he had ordered a “brief investigation but we found nothing on him”.
“I have not seen anyone at the Vatican who is registered as gay on his identity card. We acknowledge that there are (gays),” he said.
Nevertheless, “the catechism of the Catholic Church says clearly that we must not marginalise these people who should be integrated in the society.”
The Italian weekly L’Espresso this month reported that Ricca had gay relationships during his time at the Vatican embassy of Montevideo in Uruguay as well as an affair with a Swiss guard which ultimately saw him sent back to Rome in disgrace in 2010.
He was once left badly beaten after trawling notorious gay hangouts and also had to be rescued from an elevator in which he was stuck while he was with a young gigolo he had invited to the embassy for the night.
An internal bid to cover up Ricca’s activities meant Francis apparently had no idea about Ricca’s past before he appointed him as his personal representative at the scandal-hit bank this year.
The pope admitted in June that there is a “gay lobby” in the Vatican’s secretive administration, the Roman Curia, according to a Latin American Catholic website.
Gay rights groups had voiced hope on Francis’ appointment that the Argentinian pope would be friendlier to homosexuals than his predecessor.
Benedict had angered the gay community with his suggestion in 2008 that homosexuality was as much of a threat to the survival of the human race as climate change.
He has also called on Catholics to “fight” to maintain the traditional family consisting of a father, mother and children, and criticised gay marriage and abortion as “insidious and dangerous threats to the common good”.
Without expanding on the two issues, Pope Francis gave a firm answer to a question on gay marriage and abortion — both of which the Church opposes — saying “you know perfectly the position of the Church”.
He also said women should be given a bigger role in the Church, but refused to consider their ordination, saying the “door is closed” on the issue. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Pope should read Roman 1:27,beside homosexual is a sexual perversion and abomination to God that we serve,God loves sinner but he hates sin and wickedness and any wicked acts and perpetrator of it are enemies of God and the anger of God is kindled on them daily Psalm 7:11,Pope should condemn every enemy of God openly like his predecessor
ReplyDeleteIs d pope forgetting d biblical words so easily..... Nt just d political leaders,even our so calld religious leaders ar beginning to ignore or sound ignorance of God's words... Signs of end time
ReplyDeleteThese ROMAN CATHOLIC GUYS really knows NOTHING about the BIBLE. I PITY them all, including their "PETER"-POPE.
ReplyDeleteThis is perhaps why his predecessor pope Benedict XVI retired/resigned to save himself from undue pressure from the west on the issue of abortion women ordination and gay. We may not be surprise to wake up one day to see these acts legalized in Catholicism. May God save us.
ReplyDeleteCome pope or whatever you call yourself are you saying that you don't know or don't read the bible any more?how can you a whole pope make sure statment in public haba, and you call yourself a pope. Do you even know what the title pope means plz do not disgrace the church of God and I think you should ask God for forgiveness and read your bible very very well before coming out to talk about this again plz.
ReplyDeleteGod bless d POPE!
ReplyDeleteDon't ask pope. Go and ask W.F Kumuyi, he will provide all the Bible verses to proof that homosexuals will spend their eternity in the flame of Hell.
ReplyDeletepls read de popes statement b4 crucifying him.
ReplyDeletepls read de popes statement b4 crucifying him.
ReplyDeletePope is just a title. Most of them were occult members.,,,So what do you really expect? That is why they can never heal their members in the God name or through prayers. Fake-Fake Popes
ReplyDeleteIllitrates. Did u not understand what he said? Did he in anyway condone it? Fools. Even abraham begged on behalf of sodom so it mite not be destroyed. Did u nt read him saying the church does not accept that? Who in d church is not a sinner? We all sin in different ways but we all are worshipers. He said he can't judge anyone worshiping God in true faith but the church cannot accept that. Its left between whoever is Gay and God to punish not you and I. The catholic church will never wed them abominable actors. Am sure your church weds them and here u r cursing the head of the church. Foolish people holier dan God. You all mite be Gay too. May God judge You all who judge his ordained. If by any any chance what he said is no sin b4 God may God close the gate of heaven towards you all. Especially u matosky
ReplyDeleteHate what God hate and love what God loves.open rebuke is better than a secret love.Jesus christ the son of God.He made it clear and explicit that God loves sinners He condemed sin without romancing it.Gay is antichristrian and a sin .
DeleteI don't there is need to establish anyone as illiterate over this issue,when u go thru d write up carefully, U'll observe that there are sensitive places where pple are bound to get suspicious over Pope Francis' position in this gay issue. The issue of Battissa Ricca being severally involved in gay scandals as depicted severally in the write up,& his being appointed to a high profile responsibility in d church structure. Note also that it was also stated in d write up that Pope Francis' ascension on d papal throne gave hope to the gay community. Pple like me will not read thru a statement like that without asking why it should be so. What gave d gay community d hope they had in Francis compared to the dissapointment they got from Benedict? Could this be a clue to the reasons of Benedict's resignation? I am baptised of the Catholic church but we must learn to keep our sentiments aside when we wish to delve into serious issues as this. One of his jobs is to proclaim the ways of the Lord & God to the world. It is only Christ that came bcos of sinners & to save them. The Pope is a leader & not a saviour & must portray leadership in good direction in everything he does or says. If the all d world turned gay,that will give rise to an extinction of the human race. Outside religious perspectives,it is totally wrong. It's a square peg in a round hole. The hole they stick their things into to derive their joy & satisfaction was meant for only passing excreta whereas the real canal where d real thing is done was made for the two & all d provisions are there. Simple BIOLOGY!
DeletePope Ones more is a title, the only way to heaven is JESUS CHRIST, though the pope did not approve of Gay,, but his words are not of GOD,, trying to find a place for Gay instead of condeming it just as the word of GOD says.
ReplyDeleteAm not suprise,, expect more,, Only GOD knows the reason for the Change of Pope.
Dats d confusion in Xtianity, d dont even knw where 2 draw d line. See even the Pope is in support of Gay and same sex marriage.
ReplyDelete