Pope on homosexuals: There is more that unites us than separates us
In his letter to LGBT Catholics, Pope Francis said that homosexuality is not an insurmountable obstacle for followers of the Catholic faith.
On July 20, 2022, Pope Francis sent a letter to Outreach, an organization of LGBT Catholics, in which he noted that different attitudes towards homosexuality not only divide, but unite the believers of the RCC. The letter is posted on the Outreach resource.
In the letter, the Pope emphasized that owing to the pandemic, “we learned that certain things are irreplaceable,” among them the possibility to look at each other “face to face,” even with those “who think differently or those whose differences seem to separate or even confront us.” “When we overcome these barriers, we realize that there is more that unites us than separates us,” said the head of the Vatican.
Pope Francis urged LGBT Catholics to keep working "in the culture of encounter, which shortens the distances and enriches us with differences, in the same manner of Jesus, who made himself close to everyone."
At the end of the letter, the Pope promised to pray for Outreach members, encouraged them to pray for him, and blessed LGBT Catholics.
The head of the Vatican wrote this letter in response to materials sent from Outreach for an LGBTQ Catholic ministry conference held in the United States in June. Topics discussed at the conference included ministry with families of LGBTQ Catholics, ministry with transgender people, LGBTQ issues and mental health, and others.
“We are grateful to the Holy Father for his encouragement and prayers,” the Outreach wrote.
As the UOJ wrote, a scandal arose at the conference of Anglican bishops because of the attitudes towards LGBT people.
