Pope Francis Says Jesus Would Not Abandon Transgender People

The pope tried to clarify his widely condemned beliefs about "gender theory."

BY LUCAS GRINDLEY
OCTOBER 03 2016 3:49 PM EDT

The pope again angered LGBT Catholics with talk about “gender theory” this weekend, only to clarify what he meant during another impromptu plane ride news conference.

What he meant, though, won't exactly be cheered by transgender people, either.

Catholic News reports that Pope Francis was asked while aboard a flight from Azerbaijan to Rome about his critique of “gender theory,” which he claims gives children a choice of genders. The pope often comments indirectly about transgender people by talking about this "theory," and his comments on October 1 during a visit to the country of Georgia were the latest to be widely blasted by transgender-supportive faith leaders. The pope had said "gender theory" was a weapon in a "war" on marriage.

Then in the plane ride back to Rome, the pope told reporters that he had intended only to be critical of teaching children in school about what it means to be transgender. He reportedly used the word “transgender,” and he compared it to being gay. The church acknowledges people are gay but claims it’s a sin to act on same-sex attraction.

http://www.advocate.com/religion/2016/10/03/pope-francis-says-jesus-would-not-abandon-transgender-people