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Pope Francis says condemning LGBT people is a sin and the laws that criminalize them are unjust. Photo/Tiziana Fabi/Pool via REUTERS
VATICAN – Pope Francis said on Sunday that cursed the people LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) is a sin. He also called laws that criminalized the community unjust.
The head of the Vatican Holy See made his remarks in response to a journalist’s question on the plane Pope Francis was returning from a trip between two African countries.
“The criminalization of homosexuality is a problem that cannot be ignored,” said Pope Francis, who later cited anonymous statistics stating that 50 countries criminalize LGBT people in one way or another and about 10 others have laws including the death penalty for them.
As many as 66 UN member states continue to criminalize same-sex sexual relations, according to data from ILGA World—the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association.
Also read: Pope Francis Calls Homosexuality Not a Crime
In some countries where same-sex relations are banned, the penalty can be death.
“This is not right. People with homosexual inclinations are children of God. God loves them. God is with them… cursing people like this is a sin. Criminalizing people with homosexual inclinations is an injustice,” Pope Francis said, as quoted by Reuters, Monday (6/2/2023).
He noted that the catechism of the Catholic Church, or book of teachings, says same-sex attraction is not a sin but a homosexual act. He also said that LGBT people should not be marginalized.
Pope Francis mentioned a now famous phase soon after he became pope in 2013 that he cannot judge people with same-sex tendencies who seek God.
He also noted that during a visit to Ireland in 2018 he said that parents cannot disown their LGBT children, but must keep them in a loving family.
