To be shocked by the recent decision
by the Catholic Church to authorize the blessing of gay couples
is "hypocritical", Pope Francis said in an interview published
Wednesday.
"No one is scandalized if I give a blessing to a businessman who
perhaps exploits people - and this is a very serious sin," said
the pope in an interview to the Catholic weekly magazine
Credere.
"Yet they are scandalized if I give it to a homosexual.... This
is hypocrisy!" he continued.
"The heart of the document is welcome," said Francis, referring
to the instructions issued by the Church's doctrinal authority
in December allowing Catholic priests to bless "couples in
irregular situations" and same-sex couples in a fast and simple
procedure not to be confused with the ritual of marriage.
The pope told the executive editor of Credere Father Vincenzo
Vitale that he also wants the Church to be closer to the people
it serves.
"People suffer so much, we clerics sometimes live in comfort...
it is necessary to see the work, the suffering of the people,"
said Francis.
He also said "opening work in the Curia to women is important".
"In the Roman Curia there are now several women because they
perform better than men in certain positions," said Francis.
On his several health issues including walking difficulties that
sometimes make using a wheelchair necessary the pope said: "The
Church is governed using the head, not the legs".
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