Pope Francis: Church Should Welcome Divorcees, Help Families of Gays

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Dec 09, 2014

Pope Francis: Church Should Welcome Divorcees, Help Families of Gays

Pope Francis spoke out about tolerance and inclusion in a recent interview. The pontiff addressed the issues of divorcees and families of homosexuals and said both should be welcomed and supported in the church. 

According to Pope Francis, bishops should support "a family that has a homosexual son or daughter... (and consider) how can they raise him or her."

He also said that remarried church members should still be permitted to have the role of godparents and serve as readers during Mass; according to the current rules of the church, remarried Catholics may not hold either role. 

"It seems they are excommunicated de facto," Pope Francis said. Instead the church should "open the doors a little bit more." 

Francis is known as a liberal pope and has prompted many church members to criticize his beliefs. 

The pope said he is open to opinions of others. 

"Resistance is now evident. And that is a good sign for me," Francis said. “It's healthy to get things out into the open."

Publication date: December 9, 2014



Pope Francis: Church Should Welcome Divorcees, Help Families of Gays