Photo credit: Britannica
The global head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has described the anti-migrant attitudes in the United States “madness.”
AFP reports that the Pope criticized right-wing US Catholic figures for overly conservative stances against his social teaching.
He described the closure by the State of Texas of a Catholic charity offering humanitarian assistance absurd.
According to him, “That is madness. Sheer madness. To close the border and leave them there, that is madness. The migrant has to be received. Thereafter, you see how you are going to deal with them. Maybe you have to send him back. I don’t know, but each case ought to be treated humanely.”
The Pope also addressed criticism by conservative US bishops. The bishops are opposed to his efforts to revisit certain teachings and traditions.
He described conservatism as a suicidal attitude.
Since the Pope’s election, he has insisted on the church being open to all, including members of the LGBT community.
He has, however, faced a strong resistance from conservation catholics. African countries, especially, reacted to opening of doors by the Pope to the blessing of gay couples last year.
However, the Pope was adamant. He called gay people ‘a human fact,” and he said, ” To bless each person, why not? The blessing is for all.”
He also spoke on sex abuse in the Catholic Church making the combating of sexual assault one of the main missions of his papacy.
He insisted on a “zero tolerance” policy after a lot of wide-reaching scandals.
