Pope Francis & homosexuality

[Jazzy]

Pope Francis has called laws criminalizing homosexuality as fundamentally "unfair," making it clear that in the mind of the leader of the Catholic Church, "being homosexual is not a crime."

"We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are," he told AP reporter Nicole Winfield at his Vatican residence.

Francis reiterated, however, church teaching that engaging in homosexual activity is sinful.

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Do you agree or disagree that being homosexual is not a crime but engaging in homosexual activity is sinful and why?

 

[Lamb]

What countries make it a crime besides the arab ones?

 

[Albion]

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Do you agree or disagree that being homosexual is not a crime but engaging in homosexual activity is sinful and why?

Yes, I agree, and that's because of the position taken in the word of God, the Bible.

We should also take note of how the media reported the interview between Francis and the AP correspondent.

The Pope made two main points. First, that homosexuality should not be treated as a crime, although homosexual ACTS are sinful. And second, that the church and its bishops should exercise patience and love towards homosexuals, while not condoning their sinful behavior.

But the articles that the media carried, including the one linked in the original post here although it was not as slanted as some others, recast the Pope's position and talked as though he'd called for acceptance and approval by the Church of the homosexual movement. In addition, the inference was given that the Pope was apologizing as though it was the Church that has been responsible for the hostility that some people have shown towards the homosexual community.

 

[tango]

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Do you agree or disagree that being homosexual is not a crime but engaging in homosexual activity is sinful and why?

It seems to be a topic that generates far more heat than light.

There's nothing wrong with being tempted. Jesus was recorded as being tempted. Having homosexual desires is no more sinful than a married man having desires for another woman, or being tempted to steal the cash from your employer's till or whatever else. The question is what we do with those desires.

I'm not sure the gay community will find much comfort in a clarification like this, since it's effectively saying that everybody except them gets to find a life partner and seek sexual fulfilment. And then there are all sorts of arguments over exactly what the Bible says and what it's referring to.