The Pope has continued to be wildly inconsistent with his views on LGBTQ rights.
During a meeting with Italian group Forum delle Famigilie, Pope Francis refused to recognise same-sex couples and families.
“It is painful to say this today: People speak of varied families, of various kinds of families,” he said, “[but] the family [as] man and woman in the image of God is the only one.”
Francis then condemned abortion and compared it to the Holocaust, saying: “In the last century, the entire world was scandalized by what the Nazis did to ensure the purity of the race. Today we do the same, but with white gloves.”
Although Francis is considerably better on LGBTQ rights than many of his predecessors, his views are conflicting.
Last month, a gay victim of clerical sexual abuse claimed the Pope offered him kind words of support in regards to his sexuality.
Juan Carlos Cruz told El País that he met with the leader of the Catholic Church to discuss the abuse he faced at the hands of Father Fernando Karadima, the Chilean priest who was found guilty of sexually abusing children back in 2011.
“He told me, ‘Juan Carlos, that you are gay does not matter. God made you like this and loves you like this and I don’t care. The Pope loves you like this. You have to be happy with who you are,’” revealed Cruz.
It wasn’t the first time Pope Francis has shown a tolerant view towards homosexuality, despite Catholicism viewing it as being “ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil” and a “moral disorder”.
Back in 2016, he told reporters: “[Gay people] should not be discriminated against. They should be respected, accompanied pastorally.”
He added: “I think that the Church not only should apologise … to a gay person whom it offended but it must also apologise to the poor as well. To the women who have been exploited, to children who have been exploited by (being forced to) work. It must apologise for having blessed so many weapons.”
However, it later emerged that the Pope recently told Italian bishops to reject applicants to the priesthood, if they suspect that the applicant is gay.
While addressing the 71st General Assembly of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Pope Francis is said to have said: “Keep an eye on the admissions to seminaries, keep your eyes open.” He also added: “If in doubt, better not let them enter.”
Elaborating on why he thought they should be rejected, the Pope is said to have told the conference that the practice of “homosexual acts” could compromise the life of the person admitted, and could end up creating a “scandal.”
Francis has also spoken out against the trans community in the past – saying it’s “terrible” that kids are taught they can “choose” their gender.
He also backed anti-marriage equality protesters in Mexico, claiming that they are fighting “in favour of family and life”.
Related: Pope Francis says Catholic Church will not accept same-sex marriage.
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