To be shocked by the recent decision by the Catholic Church to authorize the blessing of gay couples "hypocritical", Pope Francis said in an interview published Wednesday.
"No one is scandalized if I give a blessing to a businessman who has exploits people - and this is a very serious sin," said the pope in an interview to the Catholic weekly magazine Believe.
"Yet they are scandalized if I give it to a homosexual.... This is hypocrisy!"
he continued.
"The heart of the document is welcome," said Francis, referring to the instructions issued by the Church's doctrinal authority in December allowing Catholic priests to bless "couples inirregular situations" and same-sex couples in a fast and simple procedure not to be confused with the ritual of marriage.
The pope told the executive editor of Credere Father Vincenzo Vitale that he also wants the Church to be closer to the people it serves.
"People suffer so much, we clerics sometimes live in comfort...
it is necessary to see the work, the suffering of the people," said Francis.
He also said "opening work in the Curia to women is important".
"In the Roman Curia there are now several women because they perform better than men in certain positions," said Francis.
On his several health issues including walking difficulties that sometimes make using a wheelchair necessary the pope said: "The Church is governed using the head, not the legs".
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