Despite what some of the media have reported, Pope Francis is not changing the Catholic Church's teaching on homosexualityâ??—â??nor can he. However, his word choice is vague enough to cause confusion about what he is implying.
Juan Carlos Cruz, a victim of sexual abuse from Chilean clergy, discussed a private conversation he had with Pope Francis concerning homosexuality. Cruz, who has same-sex attraction, alleged that the pope told him “God made you like that and he loves you like that and I do not care.”
While the Vatican does not confirm or deny the pope's comments from private conversations as a matter of policy, the comment is similar to the pope's 2013 statement when he asked, “Who am I to judge” if a gay person is searching for the Lord? These statements must, however, be understood within the context of Church teaching and other comments the pope has made.
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