Pope Francis: Do you have any words of advice for Catholic families who are condemned by their LGBTQ members?

The story being reported today, because the pope made comments about LGBTQ family members in his Vatican Wednesday audience, is that the pope calls for families to accept and not condemn family members who experience same-sex attraction.

There’s nothing truly revolutionary about this because in the Christian faith one is to love everyone without exception, even one’s enemies.

As with many clerics today, the Pope, although he may have very good motives and I suspect he does, comes across sounding a little naïve because, the way it’s working today, sometimes it’s LGBTQ family members who condemn their Catholic families who are following the Church’s teachings in faith and morals. I wonder if the holy father has any words of advice for that situation.

Those who actually live this situation can tell the pope in quite vivid description that the reality is very often the opposite of what he describes. When good Catholic parents share the truth that same sex genital expression is a mortal sin they often feel completely without support, sometimes also from the Church where it should be found  in the first place.

The Old Testament practice of shunning those who rejected community morals or customs is back in vogue, but not where you would suspect. It’s not Catholics who excommunicate those who reject God‘s agenda; now it’s LGBTQ individuals who shun family members for being ideologically impure.

“For know you this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person (which is a serving of idols), hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief.
Be ye not therefore partakers with them.
For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light.” Eph 5:5-8

The following link is to the story on the pope’s comments at the Wednesday audience today:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-francis-says-parents-should-support-gay-children-not-condemn-them/