The head of the Catholic church, Pope Francis, has criticised laws that criminalise homosexuality as “unjust,” saying God loves all his children just as they are.
He made his stance clear during an exclusive interview with the Associated Press on Tuesday.
“Being homosexual isn’t a crime,” he said and called on Catholic bishops who support the anti-gay laws to welcome LGBTQ people into the church.
Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some parts of the world support laws that criminalise 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 recognise the dignity of everyone.
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