The pontiff reportedly made the homophobic remark in a closed-door meeting last week as he told Italian bishops that gay men shouldn’t be allowed to train for the priesthood.

“The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others,” the Vatican said in a Tuesday statement.

“As he (Pope Francis) has said on several occasions, ‘in the Church there is room for everyone, everyone! No one is useless, no one is superfluous, there is room for everyone. Just as we are, everyone.’”

Seems like they’re playing it off as “grandpa had a woopsie”.

  • AA5B@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    6 months ago

    I always thought it was somewhat the opposite. When a society does not accept gay people as people, religious orders (priest/sister/brother) is an acceptable way to not have relationships with the opposite gender.

    • Are there so many gay priests because that is an acceptable way to not participate in heterosexual conventions?
    • Is greater acceptance in society one of the drivers for declining religious orders?