The Pope Calls People Who Criminalize Homosexuality “Wrong.”

In an open letter issued on Saturday, Pope Francis sought to clarify remarks regarding gay actions being a “sin,” saying that those who criminalize homosexuality are “wrong.”

The pope had said in an interview that being gay was “not a criminal… but it’s a sin.”

Francis said in the letter that was made public on Saturday that he had intended to emphasize in the interview that “criminalization is neither desirable nor right” and that he had meant to “clarify that it (homosexuality) is not a crime.” The letter was addressed to a Jesuit priest.

He stated, “When I said it is a sin, I was only alluding to Catholic moral teaching, which holds that any sexual act performed outside of marriage is a sin.

In his response, the pope clarified several remarks he had made during an interview with the Associated Press in response to a letter from US priest James Martin.

Between modernizers and traditionalists in the Catholic Church, the subject of homosexuality has sparked a significant schism.

Since his election as pope in 2013, Francis, 86, has generated controversy due to his more accepting stance on sexual orientation.

Francis’ letter, which was originally written in Spanish, was translated and released in English by the Catholic LGBTQ resource website Outreach, whose editor is Martin.

The pope stated, “I would advise anyone seeks to criminalize homosexuality that they are wrong.

Francis had said that being gay was “not a crime” in the AP interview.

It’s a sin, he said, “but it’s not a crime,” to be uncharitable toward one another.

Francis said in his letter to Martin that when he used “sin,” he was referring to the Catholic Church’s broader moral doctrine.

He stated, “When I said it is a sin, I was only alluding to Catholic moral teaching, which holds that any sexual act performed outside of marriage is a sin.

Of course, the circumstances must also be taken into account since they may reduce or remove blame.

As you can see, I was speaking in generalities. It is a sin, as is every sexual act performed outside of marriage, I should have stated.

Prior to his visit to Africa, where homosexuality is often criminalized, the pope made his remarks on homosexuality.