(National Catholic Reporter. Michael Sean Winters).
The full ambivalence of Pope Francis’ pastoral approach to the issue of homosexuality has come into view, first during his television interview with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell, and now with the news that he told the Italian bishops’ conference that gay men should not be allowed to enter the seminary. Is this the same pope who, early in his pontificate, when asked about a gay clergyman who keeps his vows, asked rhetorically, “Who am I to judge?” Yes, it is. Part of the confusion about the decision to permit blessings of gay people who are in a relationship stems from the Vatican’s own press coverage of the document Fiducia Supplicans when it was promulgated last December. Vatican News produced the headline: “Doctrinal declaration opens the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations.” Couples, not individuals.