Pope Francis emphasizes right of children to a mom and dad
Sun. April 13, 2014 9:34 AM by OnTopMag.com
Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of more than 1.6 billion Roman Catholics, on Friday said children have a right to grow up with a mother and a father.
Speaking to a delegation from the International Catholic Child Bureau at the Vatican, Francis said: "It is necessary to emphasize the right of children to grow up within a family, with a father and a mother able to create a suitable environment for their development and emotional maturity.Continuing to mature in the relationship, in the complementarity of the masculinity and femininity of a father and a mother, and thus preparing the way for emotional maturity."
Since ascending to pope last year, Francis has made several comments viewed as friendly to the LGBT community, including saying that the church should de-emphasize social issues such as homosexuality, contraception and abortion.
When asked by reporters accompanying him on a trip to Brazil about gay priests, Francis reportedly replied, "Who am I to judge?"
In an interview also last year, the pope added: "A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: 'Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?' We must always consider the person."
Speaking to a delegation from the International Catholic Child Bureau at the Vatican, Francis said: "It is necessary to emphasize the right of children to grow up within a family, with a father and a mother able to create a suitable environment for their development and emotional maturity.Continuing to mature in the relationship, in the complementarity of the masculinity and femininity of a father and a mother, and thus preparing the way for emotional maturity."
Since ascending to pope last year, Francis has made several comments viewed as friendly to the LGBT community, including saying that the church should de-emphasize social issues such as homosexuality, contraception and abortion.
When asked by reporters accompanying him on a trip to Brazil about gay priests, Francis reportedly replied, "Who am I to judge?"
In an interview also last year, the pope added: "A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: 'Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?' We must always consider the person."
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine