The interviewer asserted that God loves child abusers, and Francis didn’t correct him
Look, as a Christian, you need to believe that God loves everyone. That is fundamental to the religion.
However, God also condones a long list of crimes that should receive the death penalty, and homosexuality is one of those crimes.
The context here is that the “Pope” is explicitly making a point to show compassion to child molesters (AKA homosexuals) and confirm that he thinks they should not only not be killed, but should get light sentences that are based around counseling.
Pope Francis raised some eyebrows while discussing sex abusers, whom he labeled “children of God” who deserve love and “pastoral care” — as well revolting “enemies” who must be punished.
The pontiff made his remarks last month during a private meeting with a group of Jesuit priests in Hungary, but they were only published Tuesday by La Civilta Cattolica, an Italian Jesuit journal.
“How do we approach, how do we talk to the abusers for whom we feel revulsion? Yes, they too are children of God. But how can you love them?” Francis was quoted as saying.
The 86-year-old leader of the Roman Catholic Church was responding to a question from a Hungarian Jesuit who asked: “The Gospel asks us to love, but how do we love at the same time people who have experienced abuse and their abusers?”
The pope acknowledged that the answer to this “powerful question” was “not easily at all.”
Francis explained that a sexual predator was to be condemned, “but as a brother” still deserving of love and care.
“There is a logic, a form of loving the enemy that is also expressed in this way,” he added. “And it is not easy to understand and to live out. The abuser is an enemy.”
It is already assumed that God loves everyone. No one needs to have that explained. But God gives men permission to punish men who hurt other men, with an explicit focus on those who hurt children.
Yes, they deserve a meeting with the priest before execution. But that’s all.
It’s not a nuanced issue.