Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland have jointly condemned the criminalization of homosexuality. Speaking to reporters after a visit to South Sudan, the Pope said such laws were a sin and “an injustice.” He added that people with “homosexual tendencies” are children of God and should be welcomed by their churches.
The leaders of the three traditions made the statement on their first joint journey in 500 years. Archbishop Justin Welby and Iain Greenshields praised Pope Francis’ comments and expressed their support. The Church of England recently said it would not allow same-sex couples to be married in its churches.
Pope Francis repeated that the Catholic Church cannot permit sacramental marriage of same-sex couples but supports civil union legislation. He pointed out that 50 countries criminalize LGBT people and about 10 have laws carrying the death penalty. He emphasized that laws banning homosexuality are a problem that cannot be ignored and that “persons with homosexual tendencies are children of God” and “God loves them.”
Pope Francis’ comments have received mixed reactions from the Catholic community. While some conservative Catholics criticize him for making comments they believe are ambiguous about sexual morality, others welcome his more progressive views on homosexuality. In 2013, soon after becoming Pope, he reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s position that homosexual acts were sinful, but added that homosexual orientation was not. During a visit to Ireland five years later, he stressed that parents must keep their LGBT children in a loving family and could not disown them.
In conclusion, the joint condemnation of the criminalization of homosexuality by the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland mark a significant step towards a more inclusive and accepting society.
