The Catholic Church must implement Pope Francis’s historic declaration that homosexuality is not a crime by aggressively supporting attempts to remove laws in Africa that criminalize homosexuality.
Francis stated that homosexuality is “not a crime” in an interview with the Associated Press on Tuesday, but admitted that some might argue that it is “a sin.”
He replied, “Fine, but let’s first differentiate between a sin and a crime.
“However, the head of the Catholic Church noted that “lack of charity with one another is also a sin.”
Pope Francis stated that laws that criminalize homosexuality are “unjust” and that the church should work to eliminate them. “This must be done. This must be done,” he stated.
The pontiff believes that Catholic bishops who continue to support or campaign for anti-gay policies “must undergo a process of conversion” and must treat everyone with “the same tenderness that God has for each of us.”
The Pope’s remarks are made mere days before his scheduled trip to Congo and South Sudan.
According to ILGA World, 66 United Nations member states continue to criminalize consensual same-sex sexual encounters, the majority of which are in Africa.
With about 200 million members, the continent has one of the fastest-growing Catholic communities in the world.
The co-General Secretaries of the ILGA, Luz Elena Aranda and Tuisina Ymania Brown, applauded the Pope’s remarks. “Such a simple statement has the potential to bring about a much-needed change and will bring relief to millions of people in our communities around the world,” they said in a statement.
Julia Ehrt, executive director of ILGA World, urged “the Holy See to put these words into action” and stated, “The Catholic Church and its institutions can and should play an active role in supporting decriminalization efforts across the globe and within the United Nations and multilateral forums.”
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of the LGBTQ Catholic organization New Ways Ministry, feels that “this call for decriminalization will save lives and promote respect for LGBTQ+ people, especially in areas where law or social norms make them victims of fear, hatred, violence, and death.”
“The Pope is reminding the church that how people treat each other in the social world is of far greater moral significance than what they may do in their bedrooms,” he continued.
Pope Francis has previously emphasized that homosexuals and lesbians should not be judged or discriminated against, and he has visited with the parents of LGBTQ children, assuring them that their children deserve the church’s love.
In 2020, he voiced his support for the state’s legal acceptance of same-sex unions (but not the church).
Francis continues to oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage. In public speeches, he has also condemned transgender rights and gender diversity as threats to the family and mankind.
Official Catholic doctrine defines same-sex intercourse as a “act of grave depravity” that is “intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law.”
»Pope Francis implores the Catholic Church to reject anti-gay legislation«