During a visit this weekend to the
former Soviet republic of Georgia, Pope Francis denounced the
so-called “gender theory,” calling it a form of “indoctrination.”
Francis called it “the great enemy of
marriage,” adding that “the whole world is at war trying to
destroy marriage,” according to the AP.
Speaking to reporters on the plane ride
to Rome, Francis expanded on his remarks, saying there is a
distinction between ministering to transgender people and school
“indoctrination” of children into believing they can pick their
gender.
“It is one thing if a person has this
tendency and also changes sex. It's another thing to teach this in
school to change mentalities. This is what I call 'ideological
colonization,'” Francis said.
“These people must be accompanied as
Jesus accompanied them,” he said of transgender people.
“I've never abandoned them. When
someone who has this condition comes before Jesus, Jesus would surely
never say 'go away because you're gay,'” he added.
“It's a problem of morality,”
Francis said of transgender Catholics. “It's a human problem. And
it must be resolved as it can be. But always with the mercy of God,
within the truth.”
He added that Jesus would “welcome,
accompany, discern and integrate them” into the church.
Francis ended his remarks by asking the
reporters: “Please don't write, 'The pope blesses trans.' Please.”