The Pope Apologizes for ‘Homophobic Terms’ After Comments Spark Outrage
The Vatican apologized after reports emerged of Pope Francis using an anti-gay slur. The pope’s comment, stating “There’s already too much faggotry,” sparked outrage. While some demand further explanation, others see the incident as undermining the pope’s LGBT outreach efforts. The context and impact of the remark are debated, reflecting a critical moment for the pontiff. The Vatican issued an apology following reports of Pope Francis using an anti-gay slur, causing uproar with his statement. The incident has led to varied reactions, with some seeking clarification while others interpreting it as a setback to the pope’s efforts to reach out to the LGBT community. The implications and significance of the remark are being actively discussed, portraying a pivotal juncture for the pope.
By Jack Davis May 28, 2024 at 1:37pm
The Vatican on Tuesday issued an apology after media outlets reported that Pope Francis used an anti-gay slur during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops last week.
During the May 20 meeting, the pope used the derogatory Roman Italian term “frociaggine” to describe some seminaries, Italian newspapers reported.
His comment could be translated into English as “There’s already too much faggotry,” according to the U.K.’s Telegraph.
“The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others,” the Vatican said in a statement, according to CNN.
“As he [Francis] has said on several occasions, ‘in the Church there is room for everyone, everyone! No one is useless, no one is superfluous, there is room for everyone. Just as we are, everyone,’” it said.
The pontiff’s comment caused outrage, as noted by The Washington Post.
“The pope must explain himself,” said the Rev. Wolfgang Rothe of Munich, an openly gay Catholic priest.
“I am not certain he understands [the term], but I think he does, and it makes me sad,” Rothe said. “A pope should not speak in such a manner.”
The Post cited a Vatican official it did not name as confirming Francis used the phrase while speaking to 200 Italian bishops.
Do you think Francis should have apologized?
“I think this constitutes a heavy blow to Francis’s prestige,” said Marco Politi, who has written books about the pope. “Because a pope is not to use those words, neither in private nor in public.
“Among both Catholics and non-Catholics who admire the pope, I have witnessed a devastating impact, whereas on the right, among those who never loved the pope, they’re quite happy with the pope using words interpreted as homophobic.
“This is quite a dramatic incident, although Francis has wisely backtracked.”
Some said the importance of the conversation was not the word but the context in which it was used.
Francis DeBernardo, director of New Ways Ministry, which advocates for LGBT Catholics, said the apology meant the pope used “a careless colloquialism” and nothing more, according to The New York Times.
However, DeBernardo said he was disappointed that the pontiff did not explain what was meant by the remark.
“Without a clarification, his words will be interpreted as a blanket ban on accepting any gay man to a seminary,” he said.
DeBernardo demanded Francis “provide a clearer statement on his views about gay priests, so many of whom faithfully serve the people of God each day.”
“C’è già troppa ‘frociaggine’”. Papa Francesco consiglia così, ai vescovi italiani, di non ammettere seminaristi gay https://t.co/Z0ZY5QiTSA
— Repubblica (@repubblica) May 27, 2024
The Post said that some on the left believed the comment was leaked as part of the battle over the role of homosexuals in the church.
The Global Network of Rainbow Catholics said it was part of an effort to sabotage the pope’s LGBT outreach efforts.
“There is definitely mischief afoot to try and undermine Pope Francis,” the group said in a statement.
A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:
I heard a chilling comment the other day: “We don’t even know if an election will be held in 2024.”
That wasn’t said by a conspiracy theorist or a doomsday prophet. No, former U.S. national security advisor Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn said that to the founder of The Western Journal, Floyd Brown.
Gen. Flynn’s warning means that the 2024 election is the most important election for every single living American. If we lose this one to the wealthy elites who hate us, hate God, and hate what America stands for, we can only assume that 248 years of American history and the values we hold dear to our hearts may soon vanish.
The end game is here, and as Benjamin Franklin said, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
All of this means that without you, it’s over. We have the platform, the journalists, and the experience to fight back hard, but Big Tech is strangling us through advertising blacklists, shadow bans, and algorithms. Did you know that we’ve been blacklisted by 90% of advertisers? Without direct support from you, our readers, we can’t continue the fight.
Can we count on your support? It may not seem like much, but a Western Journal Membership can make all the difference in the world because when you support us directly, you cut Big Tech out of the picture. They lose control.
A monthly Western Journal Membership costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content — news, commentary, and premium articles. You’ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America’s soul in 2024.
We are literally counting on you because without our members, The Western Journal would cease to exist. Will you join us in the fight?
Sincerely,
Josh Manning
Deputy Managing Editor
The Western Journal
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...