Pope calls abortion murder - and rejects marriage for everyone

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Pope Francis: "Do not force the Church to deny its truth."

Photo: TIZIANA FABI / AFP

Pope Francis used harsh words to condemn abortions.

"Abortion is more than a problem, it is murder," said the head of the Catholic Church to journalists on the return flight from his trip to Slovakia.

From a scientific point of view, it is a human life, said the 84-year-old.

"How should one accept daily murder?" That is why the church is so tough on this subject.

In the conversation, he also commented on the advance of American bishops who want to ban President Joe Biden from communion because of his liberal abortion policy - and was less radical on this point: the bishops should deal pastorally with the matter, said Francis.

If one does not act like a "shepherd", such issues would immediately become a political issue.

Another issue was the Pope's stance on marriage for homosexual couples in the Catholic Church.

He ruled out such liberalization again: marriage was a sacrament and the church had no power to change it.

It is important to help people with a different sexual orientation - but without imposing things on the church that do not work there.

Francis referred to state regulations, such as the civil solidarity pact in France, which enables a civil partnership.

If a homosexual couple wants to spend life together, there are civil options in many states.

"But marriage is marriage." That doesn't mean that you want to judge people, you have to respect everyone.

"But please don't force the church to deny its truth."

The attitude of the Catholic Church on the subject of homosexuality is met with contradictions, especially in Germany.

In the spring, the ban on blessings for homosexual couples caused considerable excitement among believers.

In Germany some priests had blessed couples contrary to instructions from the Vatican.

mxw / dpa