Eingeengte Sicht im Journalismus. Papst-Äußerung übergangen

Hans H ö g l

Die Medienwelt hat wieder e i n großes Thema: die Ukraine. So werden andere wichtige Infos nicht beachtet. In einem raschen Überfliegen von österr., deutschen und französischen Quellen fand ich nicht jene Nachricht, die ich in Al Jazeera traf, nämlich dass Papst Franziskus sich in einer überraschender Weise zur Homosexualität äußerte, dass Homosexuelle auch Kinder Gottes sind und dass Homosexualität nicht kriminalisiert werden dürfe. Im Folgenden der Text von der arabischen Quelle „Al Jazeera“-News.

‘We are all children of God’: Pope says homosexuality not a crime

In an interview with the AP, Francis criticises laws criminalising homosexuality and calls on bishops to welcome LGBTQ people.Pope Francis speaks during an interview with The Associated Press. Francis said bishops need to adapt and recognise the dignity of everyone [Andrew Medichini/AP]Published On 25 Jan 2023

Pope Francis has criticised laws that criminalise homosexuality as “unjust”, saying God loves all his children just as they are and called on Catholic bishops who support the laws to welcome LGBTQ people into the church. “Being homosexual isn’t a crime,” Francis said during an interview on Tuesday with The Associated Press.

Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some parts of the world support laws that criminalise homosexuality or discriminate against the LGBTQ community, and he himself referred to the issue in terms of “sin”. But he attributed such attitudes to cultural backgrounds and said bishops in particular need to undergo a process of change to recognise the dignity of everyone.

“These bishops have to have a process of conversion,” he said, adding that they should apply “tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us”.

Some 67 countries or jurisdictions worldwide criminalise consensual same-sex sexual activity, 11 of which can or do impose the death penalty, according to The Human Dignity Trust, which works to end such laws. Experts say that even where the laws are not enforced, they contribute to harassment, stigmatisation and violence against LGBTQ people.

The United Nations has repeatedly called for an end to laws criminalising homosexuality outright, saying they violate rights to privacy and freedom from discrimination and are a breach of countries’ obligations under international law to protect the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Declaring such laws “unjust”, Francis said the Catholic Church can and should work to put an end to them. “It must do this. It must do this,” he said.

Such laws are common in Africa and the Middle East and date from British colonial times or are inspired by Islamic law. Some Catholic bishops have strongly upheld them as consistent with Vatican teaching that considers homosexual activity “intrinsically disordered”, while others have called for them to be overturned as a violation of basic human dignity.

On Tuesday, Francis said there needed to be a distinction between a crime and a sin with regard to homosexuality.“Being homosexual is not a crime,” he said. “It’s not a crime. Yes, but it’s a sin. Fine, but first let’s distinguish between a sin and a crime.”

“It’s also a sin to lack charity with one another,” he added.

Catholic teaching holds that while homosexuals must be treated with respect, homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered”. Francis has not changed that teaching, but he has made reaching out to the LGBTQ community a hallmark of his papacy.

Starting with his famous 2013 declaration: “Who am I to judge?” when he was asked about a purportedly gay priest, Francis has gone on to minister repeatedly and publicly to the gay and trans community.