Pope Francis: Homosexuality is not a crime

(25 Jan 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vatican City - 24 January 2023
1. Pope sitting down for an interview with The Associated Press
HEADLINE: POPE FRANCIS SAYS HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT A CRIME
2. Various of Pope Francis sitting down
ANNOTATION: In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Pope Francis said laws that criminalize homosexuality are wrong.
3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Pope Francis:
“Being homosexual is not a crime. It’s not a crime. 'Yes, it’s a sin.' Well, yes, but let’s make the distinction first between sin and crime."
4. Close of camera screen recording the interview
ANNOTATION: Francis quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church in saying gays must be welcomed and should not be marginalized.
5. Wide of interview
ANNOTATION: Laws criminalizing homosexuality are common in many parts of Africa and the Middle East.
6. Close of Pope’s eyes
ANNOTATION: In the U.S., dozens of states still have anti-sodomy laws, despite a Supreme Court ruling declaring them unconstitutional.
7. Wide of the Vatican through a bridge railing
ANNOTATION: Francis has made reaching out to the LGBTQ community a hallmark of his papacy.

STORYLINE:
Pope Francis has criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as "unjust," and said God loves all his children, just as they are.

"Being homosexual isn't a crime," Francis said during an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press.

Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some parts of the world still supported laws that criminalized homosexuality or discriminated against the LGBTQ community.

But, he attributed attitudes to cultural backgrounds, and said bishops in particular needed to undergo a process of change to recognize the dignity of everyone.

Francis cited data, by the The Human Dignity Trust, that more than 50 countries or jurisdictions around the world criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, 10 of which by imposing the death penalty.

According to experts, even in countries where such laws are not enforced, there is harassment, stigmatization and violence against LGBTQ persons.

In the U.S., more than a dozen states still have anti-sodomy laws on the books, despite a 2003 Supreme Court ruling they are unconstitutional.

Gay rights advocates say the antiquated laws are used to harass LGBTQ members, and point to new legislation such as the “Don’t say gay” law in Florida, which forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, as evidence of continued efforts to marginalize them.

The United Nations has repeatedly called for an end to laws criminalizing homosexuality, saying they violate rights to privacy and freedom from discrimination and are a breach of countries’ obligations under international law to protect the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Declaring such laws “unjust,” Francis said the Catholic Church can and should work to put an end to them. “It must do this. It must do this,” he said.

Francis quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church in saying gays must be welcomed and respected, and should not be marginalized or discriminated against.

AP video shot by Luigi Navarra

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[joey]

I’ve done a lot of research on this subject both biblically and scientifically.

To sum it up, the ORIGINAL Bible scripture on homosexuality consisted of condemning Pederasty, men having sex with BOYS (Leviticus), and public Pagan ritual orgies (Passages in the New Testament).
Nothing to do with homosexuality in general, especially loving committed monogamous relationships. These homosexual verses, along with others including slavery, have been mistranslated throughout history.

Scientifically, I found both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychology Association (APA) both concur that a person's sexuality is a natural occurrence and that it cannot be changed by will.
And we all know this, because none of us can change our sexuality. It’s not like we can wake up tomorrow and say I will be homosexual today or I will be heterosexual today. It just does not work that way.
It is a part of nature. Over 1500 species been shown to exhibit homosexuality.

Bottom line, two adults who fall in love with each other and want to take care of each other for the rest of their lives and perhaps adopt children from orphanages that have no parents, and create a family, pay their taxes, are an asset to society, and cause no trouble, deserve respect and the freedom to do that.
Unless someone can show me how this is harmful, I will be an LGBT supporter.

Blessings to you.🙏🙂

[MonarC]

That’s because god isn’t against love. And people think being gay is ALL ABOUT Sex. It’s what society wanted you to believe for a very long time. So I get all the hate. But don’t blame your hate on god.

[gregorioarango]

By taking a look at this particular issue, under the perspective of the world, it is not a crime, for nobody goes to jail for being a homosexual or a lesbian person. Therefore, Pope Francis is okay by saying that being gay is not a crime.

[BenedictumNomenIesu]

It is a crime, according to Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Francis is trying to contradict God and St Pope Pius V.