Pope Francis: Church Must Welcome Gays, Divorced

Pope Francis has said that the Catholic Church must do more to welcome gay and divorced Catholics, acknowledging the positive sides of open dissent within the church over those topics. UPI reports:

In an interview with the Argentine newspaper, La Nacion, published Sunday, the Pope noted the conflict his reform-minded papacy has provoked, calling it a "good sign" if no "hidden mumbling when there is disagreement" is observed. "Resistance is now evident," he added, "and that is a good sign for me…It's healthy to get things out into the open."

Of the divorced, the Pope said, "Communion alone is no solution. The solution is integration. They have not been excommunicated, true. But they cannot be godfathers to any child being baptized, mass readings are not for divorcees, they cannot give communion, they cannot teach Sunday school, there are about seven things that they cannot do…Thus, let us open the doors a bit more."

The Pope referred to a synod of bishops in Rome in October, which discussed problems affecting Catholic families, including divorce and gay unions, provoking sharp disagreement. One bloc of bishops called for open support of gay couples and a return of sacramental benefits to divorced Catholics; their interests were criticized by more tradition-minded bishops, and gave rise to suggestions the church would significantly revise its policies.