Krzysztof Charamsa, the Polish priest
who was fired for coming out gay, says that the Roman Catholic Church
is complicit in “anti-homosexual terror.”
“The Catholic Church is thrilled,
it's satisfied with cases of persecution and criminalization, because
criminalization of homosexuality in truth is a legal confirmation of
its position on homosexuality. Up to the moment the church rejects
and condemns the criminalization of homosexuality outright it will be
complicit in anti-homosexual terror,” Charamsa told the AFP.
The 43-year-old Charamsa announced that
he is gay and has a partner, Spaniard Eduardo Planas, on the day
before Pope Francis opened the Synod of Bishops, a three-week
assembly of bishops from around the world looking at issues facing
Catholic families.
The Vatican called Charamsa's actions
“irresponsible,” adding that he “will certainly be unable” to
continue as a theologian at the Vatican.
Last month, a Polish bishop defrocked
Charamsa, saying that he failed to abide by his vow of celibacy.
Charamsa, who now lives with his
partner in Barcelona, added that the church “psychologically kills”
people.
“The Catholic Church does not kill
people, but I think it kills them psychologically. It kills them
through its regressive positions,” Charamsa
said.