Pope Francis in 2014 (Photo; Flickr)
Pope Francis objected to LGBTI families and abortion in an address at the Vatican over the weekend.
The Pope reiterated the Catholic Church’s stance against same-sex households at a meeting on Saturday with Italian group Forum delle Famiglie.
‘It is painful to say this today: People speak of varied families, of various kinds of families,’ he said, ‘[but] the family [as] man and woman in the image of God is the only one.’
The Pope praised women and men who forgive their spouse’s infidelity, referring to the ‘sanctity that forgives all out of love.’
‘Many women – but even men sometimes do it [with wives] – wait in silence, looking the other way, waiting for their husband to become faithful again.’
He continued to state that abortion is comparable to Nazi practices during the Holocaust, such as enforced sterilization.
‘In the last century, the entire world was scandalized by what the Nazis did to ensure the purity of the race. Today we do the same, but with white gloves.’
The Catholic Church staunchly opposes any attempt to end the life of an unborn child.
Vatican recently reaffirmed gay priest ban
The statements follow years of contradictory messages from Pope Francis and the Vatican regarding LGBTI matters. The Pope has made several statements implying both a softening and hardening of the Vatican’s stance towards same-sex relationships.
In May the Pope offered support to a gay survivor of sex abuse. The individual, Juan Carlos, said: ‘[The Pope] told me, “Juan Carlos, that you are gay does not matter. God made you like this and loves you like this and I don’t care. The Pope loves you like this. You have to be happy with who you are” ‘.
The same month, the Vatican reiterated its ban on gay priests. Despite the Pope being quoted as saying ‘Who am I to judge?’ regarding the matter in 2013, the Vatican released the following statement:
‘The Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called ‘gay culture.’
See also
Rome Pride attracts a 500,000-strong ‘Rainbow Brigade’ in Italy
Vatican-backed Catholic rally to host panel on welcoming LGBTI people
Italy’s new right-wing Minister for Families says rainbow families ‘don’t exist’
