Pope Francis says ‘fashionable’ homosexuality ‘is something that worries me’

Pope Francis has said that ‘fashionable’ homosexuality ‘is something that worries me’ and claims there is no place for gay priests in the Catholic church. 

Quoted in a soon-to-be published book, Francis remarked that some societies are considering homosexuality a ‘fashionable’ lifestyle. 

Francis was quoted as describing homosexuality within the walls of seminaries, convents and other religious places where clergy live as ‘a very serious question.’ 

Pope Francis has said that ‘fashionable’ homosexuality ‘is something that worries me’ and claims there is no place for gay priests in the Catholic church

Italian daily Corriere della Sera’s website Saturday ran excerpts of the book in the form of an interview that Francis gave on religious vocations.

In the interview with Spanish-born missionary priest, Fernando Prado, he was quoted: ‘In our societies, it even seems homosexuality is fashionable. And this mentality, in some way, also influences the life of the church.’

The book, based on four hours of conversations the two had in August at the Vatican, will be published in 10 languages next week.

Francis reiterated past Vatican pronouncements about the attention that must be given to selecting men for admission to seminaries, saying ‘we must very much take care of human and sentimental maturity’ when training future priests.

Quoted in a soon-to-be published book, Francis remarked that some societies are considering homosexuality a 'fashionable' lifestyle

Quoted in a soon-to-be published book, Francis remarked that some societies are considering homosexuality a ‘fashionable’ lifestyle

Separately, quoted Francis in the book as commenting on a clergyman who had told him that having gay people in Catholic religious housing ‘isn’t so grave’ because it’s ‘only an expression of affection’, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

That reasoning ‘is in error,’ Francis said. ‘In consecrated life and priestly life, there is no place for this kind of affection.’

He said candidates with ‘neuroses or strong unbalances’ should not be accepted ‘to the priesthood nor to (other forms of) consecrated life.’

But Francis, as he has in the past, stressed that gay Catholics contribute to the life of the church. 

He said candidates with 'neuroses or strong unbalances' should not be accepted 'to the priesthood nor to (other forms of) consecrated life' 

He said candidates with ‘neuroses or strong unbalances’ should not be accepted ‘to the priesthood nor to (other forms of) consecrated life’ 

Catholic teaching considers homosexual activity sinful, and that everyone, except married heterosexual couples, should abstain from sex

Catholic teaching considers homosexual activity sinful, and that everyone, except married heterosexual couples, should abstain from sex

He said the church must always remember that ‘they are persons who will live in the service of the church, of the Christian community, of the people of God. Let’s never forget this perspective.’

Francis in his papacy has sought to stress that while obeying church teachings, the faithful must also be compassionate and open to others with different views.

Catholic teaching considers homosexual activity sinful, and that everyone, except married heterosexual couples, should abstain from sex.

Francis was quoted as describing homosexuality within the walls of seminaries, convents and other religious places where clergy live as 'a very serious question'  

Francis was quoted as describing homosexuality within the walls of seminaries, convents and other religious places where clergy live as ‘a very serious question’  

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