Pope Francis on Friday called for a Church that was less strict and more compassionate towards “imperfect” Catholics, such as those who divorced and remarried, saying “no one can be condemned forever”, reported Reuters.
However the Pope also reaffirmed that the church would not support gay marriage. Francis said gays should be respected but firmly re-stated the Church’s position that there are “absolutely no grounds” to equate gay unions to heterosexual marriage.
Responding to Pope Francis’ pronouncement, Mary Beth Maxwell, senior vice president for Programs, Research and Training at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation released the following statement:
“We had hoped that Pope Francis’ more open and loving message about LGBT people would translate into fuller inclusion during the Church’s Year of Mercy, and we are disappointed today. The good news is, we know that a strong majority of U.S. Catholics believe in equality for LGBT people and that in a growing number of Catholic families and parishes all across this country we are welcomed for who we are, not judged or excluded because of doctrine. We will continue working, along with so many committed people of faith, toward full inclusion and participation in our beloved Church, and we look to the day when Pope Francis’ call for a loving and welcoming Church includes the LGBT faithful and our families.”
