Pope Francis said Wednesday that “being homosexual isn’t a crime.” MorningEdition spoke to Juan Carlos Cruz, a gay Vatican advisor and survivor of clergy sex abuse, about the pope’s remarks.
On the impact of the pope's message on LGBTQ criminalization It's been an incredible day with his statement, something that no pope has ever done in history. He's taken great steps and they're sincere and that I appreciate.
In a moment where the LGBT community all over the world needs it because it's being attacked, condemned, there's laws that criminalize it. This man does change and does acknowledge when he has made a mistake and he said it publicly. And I admire that in him. I mean, there's a lot a lot still to do in terms of abuse in the church. By no means we're done. It doesn't surprise me from Pope Francis. He's a man that is open to everybody, who holds the dignity of the person in the highest standards. The LGBT community is very in his heart. I would not say this if I didn't know it. I know this for a fact, and that makes me very happy.The pope that I knew and that I saw in 2017 versus the pope that that I met, and after a few meetings in 2018, it's 180 degree difference. It's surprising. You know, we normally say older people, you know, it's hard to change their views or change. This man does change and does acknowledge when he has made a mistake and he said it publicly. And I admire that in him. I mean, there's a lot a lot still to do in terms of abuse in the church. By no means we're done.The pope highlights that the LGBTQ community is not sinful and criminal. And he says harming one's neighbor is most certainly both. So it's the bedrock of Catholic teaching. And he shifts this, you know, wording, like you said it, Leila, but he highlights how important it is that it's more sinful, you know, having things against your neighbor or being uncharitable, or criminal towards the gay community, that's sinful. The radio interview with Juan Carlos Cruz was produced by Kaity Kline. The digital version was produced by Destinee Adams and edited by Majd Al-Waheidi.
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