The AP Interview: Pope says homosexuality not a crime

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as “unjust,” saying God loves all his children just as they are and called on Catholic bishops who support the laws to welcome LGBTQ people into the church.

“Being homosexual isn’t a crime,” Francis said during an exclusive interview Tuesday with The Associated Press.

Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some parts of the world support laws that criminalize homosexuality or discriminate against the LGBTQ community, and he himself referred to the issue in terms of “sin.” But he attributed such attitudes to cultural backgrounds, and said bishops in particular need to undergo a process of change to recognize the dignity of everyone.

“These bishops have to have a process of conversion,” he said, adding that they should apply “tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us.”

Francis’ comments are the first uttered by a pope about such laws, but they are consistent with his overall approach to the LGBTQ community and belief that the Catholic Church should welcome everyone and not discriminate.

Some 67 countries or jurisdictions worldwide criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, 11 of which can or do impose the death penalty, according to The Human Dignity Trust, which works to end such laws. Experts say even where the laws are not enforced, they contribute to harassment, stigmatization and violence against LGBTQ people.

[[It might be that you underestimate the amount of sin stain on each of us in the flesh.]]

Nope i don’t- We have 2 natures when we are saved- the New perfect nature that can not sin, and the old nature that continues to sin through out our lives-

[[or, a person that is saved but is looking for an excuse to sin]]

Nope- never said or implied anything like that- and no there aren’t just two groups of people- there are backslidden Christians hwo don’t try as well, but are still saved-

[[Then how could they be redeemed in the first place?]]

I wasn’t talking about the redeemed- the unsaved have no higher self, ie the redeemed self- they have only the unregenerate self that does not desire the things of God- The backslidden have fallen back from God, but still have the redeemed nature- God may allow them ot continue in sin, but at some point He may declare enough is enough and take that person home if they don’t get back close to God=-

[[So like, if you feel sorry about it every time you do it, it is somehow different when you keep doing it as opposed to the person who does not feel sorry about it?]]

Yes, the unregenerated person feels no sorrow because they do not have the Holy Spirit living in them to convict their conscience- The uinregenrated person continues in sin their whole lives with no remorse- (That is NOT to say unsaved can’t have a sense of wrongdoing, as the Holy Spirit stil l works on the unsaved- but the person has no real sense of just what their sin means-

[[Sorry, or guilty?]]

Sorry for being too weak and for greivign the Spirit - The unregenerated person has no sense of such sorrow by and large- (Unless they are close to being saved when the Holy Spirit convinces them that they are lost and in need of salvation

[[If a person is tracking their sin, in order to confess it or feel sorry for it, then are they not simply still trying to “live” the Law?]]

Noone is trackiogn their sins- but the fact is we all sin=- continually- Even Paul lamented that fact- and I’m sure he confessed to God when he failed- We all have soem sins that are stronger in us than other sins, and which we struggle with- and may never overcome fully- however, as redeemed, we are not guilty as far as having to suffer the penalty of sin- eternal death-

[[STOP making sin the focal point of your walk with the Lord,]]

Lol- i don’t- simply pointing out the differences between the saved and unsaved regarding sin and how it affects them differently- -

Sorry, I misunderstood. I agree with your premise- folks do live as unto the law out of a sense of pride really, so they can boast that “I abstain from such and such” - they wear it as a badge of honor. We all sin, will always sin as lo g as we have the two nature’s In us (while living on this side of heaven), and we will always struggle in certain areas

Read a good sermon. Awhile back that talked about how we have to pay the co sequences of our actions even though we are forgiven them, and the fella pointed out that when a person falls back into sin in a carnal state, if they are that way for any length of time, they are jusy setting themselves up for hardships later when they get back close to God because their sin nature will have been fed whatever sin or sins they were committing, will have gotten used to being fed, and Wil. Demand to be fed for quite so e time usually after the person gets back in fellowship with God.

Like say it was drugs the saved person fell into. They would struggle with it the rest of their lives most likely and would always crave it and be tempted by it, and they also will have to suffer whatever damage the drugs or alcohol did to them ie destroyed liver, heart problems etc. Those co sequences will never leave (the health co sequences I mean) the spiritual consequences however can be healed somewhat for most people, for a few it will be healed completely.

Thank God thougn that we are still forgiven and can seek him daily, seek to develop a closer relationship ship with him despite whatever calamities we brought on ourselves, or will bring in the future.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.