Pope Francis told parents this week that they should support gay children and “never condemn them”.
The 85-year-old progressive pontiff made his final comments in support of LGBT people on Wednesday during an unscripted portion of his weekly audience as he discussed the struggles faced by parents.
These issues included “parents seeing different sexual orientations in their children and how to deal with that, how to support their children and not hide behind a condemnatory attitude,” Francis said.
“I tell them: don’t be afraid… Never condemn a child,” he continued, according to Agence France-Presse.
He further spoke with admiration of the mothers he once saw in his native Argentina waiting outside a prison in Buenos Aires to see sons “who had made a mistake”.
“They showed their faces, they didn’t hide and they always supported him. What courage,” he said of the mums.
Francis has previously said gay people have the right to be accepted by their families as children and siblings, and has sent notes of appreciation to priests and nuns who care for gay Catholics.
He also said that while the Church cannot accept same-sex marriage, it can support civil union laws aimed at giving same-sex partners common rights in the areas of pensions, health care and family issues. ‘heritage.
Last year, the Vatican’s doctrinal office released a document saying Catholic priests cannot bless same-sex unions, a decision that has greatly disappointed gay Catholics.
With post wires
