Church too much obsessed with gays, abortion: Pope Francis

Setting the tone for his papacy, Pope Francis has warned that the Catholic Church’s moral edifice “will fall like a pack of cards” if care is not taken to balance its divisive rules on gays, abortion and contraception with the need to emerge as merciful and more welcoming place for all.

Zee Media Bureau

Vatican City: Setting the tone for his papacy, Pope Francis has warned that the Catholic Church’s moral edifice “will fall like a pack of cards” if care is not taken to balance its divisive rules on gays, abortion and contraception with the need to emerge as merciful and more welcoming place for all.

In a candid interview published in La Civilta Cattolica, a Rome-based Jesuit magazine, the Pope said, “We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel."

"The church has sometimes locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules. The people of God want pastors, not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials," he said.

The 12, 000-word interview also revealed Pope’s personal faith and role of women and nuns in the church.

Only six months into his papacy, Francis had earlier created stir on the issue of gay priests. He had said "Who am I to judge? As long as they are searching for God and have good will.”

Francis, 76, also touched upon where he falls within the political and theological spectrum of Catholics. The Pope, who was appointed to the Jesuit leadership position when he was 36, said his youthful lack of experience made him too authoritarian of a leader.

Zee News App: Read latest news of India and world, bollywood news, business updates, cricket scores, etc. Download the Zee news app now to keep up with daily breaking news and live news event coverage.