Pope Francis Tells Parents to Support Their Queer Children
Reuters reports.Those difficulties 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.In 2020, the pope said that LGB people have the right to be accepted by their families.He’s also said in the past that while the Catholic Church cannot support marriage equality, the Church can support same-sex civil union laws that provide same-sex couples joint rights.And while Francis has been more progressive in his stances on LGBTQ+ rights, last year, the Vatican issued a statement barring Catholic priests from blessing same-sex unions.
Something Reuters reports has disappointed queer Catholics.Some ministers have started blessing unions instead of marriage.The Catholic Church is home to more than 1.3 billion members around the world.
Its conservative members have said the pope continues to give mixed messages on homosexuality.In December, a Vatican department apologized for "causing pain to the entire LGBTQ community" when it removed a link to a Catholic LGBTQ+ rights advocacy group in preparation for a Vatican meeting scheduled for 2023 on the Church's future direction.
Earlier this month, Francis celebrated U.S. nun Jeannine Gramick thanking her for her five decades of advocacy and ministry to LGBTQ+ Catholics.
