The site of the Holy SeeVatican News analyzed that already in the context of the interview with the AP it was evident that Francisco had spoken of homosexuality, meaning in this case “homosexual acts” and not the homosexual condition itself. With his response, the Pope reiterated that his position, already repeated since the first discussion with the journalists on the return flight from Brazil in 2013 is that of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “If a person is gay and seeks the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”
In responding to Father Martin, the Pope also remarked, with regard to sin, that “it is necessary to also consider the circumstances, which diminish or annul the guilt”, because “we know well that Catholic morality, in addition to matter, evaluates freedom, intention, and this, for each type of sin.” Therefore, in the letter he insists on what he said to AP: “I want to tell whoever wants to criminalize homosexuality that they are wrong.” In the interview he stated that “Being gay is not a crime” While there are more than 50 countries that contemplate legal sentences for homosexual people and, in some of these, even the death penalty. The letter ends with The Pope who prays for the work of Father Martin and for the LGBT community that he has followed and adds: “I ask you to do the same for me”.
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Father James Martinaged 62, who, among other things, Since 2017 he has been a consultant to the Vatican Dicastery for Communicationis very active in favor of full acceptance of LGBTQ people In the catholic church. He is the author of the book ‘Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the Lgbt Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity’ (A bridge to build), related to the pastoral care towards the LGBTQ world and, always in the same theme, in 2021 he made a DVD presented at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Despite criticism for his initiatives, Pope Francis has supported him many times in his work.
Source: Ambito
