Pope “Who am I to judge?” Francis is judging gay couples once again, saying to a group of Catholic families over the weekend that the only legitimate families are headed by straight parents.

Speaking to a delegation of Italy’s Family Association in Rome on Saturday, he also reiterated the Roman Catholic belief that a true human family is comprised of a man and woman. … “Today, it is hard to say this, we speak of ‘diversified’ families: different types of families. It is true that the word ‘family’ is an analogical word, because we speak of the ‘family’ of stars, ‘family’ of trees, ‘family’ of animals … it is an analogical word. But the human family in the image of God, man and woman, is the only one. It is the only one. A man and woman can be non-believers: but if they love each other and unite in marriage, they are in the image of God even if they don’t believe, ” the Pope said.

Saying that is worse than mere Catholic doctrine, which says “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” Pope Francis wasn’t just saying the acts are wrong; he dismissed the very legitimacy of families headed by a same-sex couple, as if they don’t love each other, as if they don’t love their kids, as if they’re not deserving of equal rights.

In the same speech, he equated women who choose to have abortions because their child will be born with birth defects to Nazi-era eugenics.

“… In the last century the whole world was scandalized about what the Nazis did to purify the race. Today we do the same, but now with white gloves.“

There’s a difference between forced abortion under the Nazi regime — often against the will of the parents — and those who choose abortion to alleviate a lifetime of suffering. It’s always a personal decision. For many, it’s a difficult one. The Pope doesn’t care about that nuance just as he doesn’t care about the emotions those parents are already dealing with.

All this, from a man who doesn’t have a family and won’t have children. He feels perfectly at ease condemning the kinds of choices he will never have to make, all because he’s following inflexible Catholic dogma. This pope is not a radical. Remember that. He’s just says the same awful things we’ve come to expect from other Catholic leaders but with a smile on his face.

(Image via Shutterstock)

