Pope Francis says same-sex couples aren't 'families'

Listen as a KZN gay man chats to Damon about his unconventional but loving family below, or read the details under the podcast.

Pope Francis has shocked the LGBTQ+ world by openly saying that only heterosexual people can truly form a family - a viewpoint that many will agree and disagree with, and that’s okay. 

It seems that the Pope is sometimes hot and cold about his remarks on the LGBT+ community. According to Advocate, a few weeks back he chatted with a gay man, Juan Carlos Cruz, who was a victim of sexual abuse by the hands of a Catholic priest. Cruz said the Pope told him that his sexuality didn't matter to anyone, including him. "You have to be happy with who you are," he added.

So let’s be honest here - is your opinion based on moral or religious beliefs? Does it come from a place of experience or merely being misinformed because you don’t know enough about the subject, or perhaps you’re being judgemental?

The argument that a child will be harmed growing up with two moms or two dads doesn’t stack up for me. Then we should also say that a child brought up by a single parent may also be harmed.

Read: ‘Is it possible to be anti-gay, but not homophobic?’

If anything, I’m pretty sure single moms and dads are more flexible in their parenting styles than they’re given credit for. I know single dads who are quite capable of gentle, nurturing parenting and a few single moms who are just as capable of setting rules and boundaries for children, while also teaching their son football. 

But back to only heterosexual people forming families. I think that when people think of same-sex marriages, they wonder if the children will be disadvantaged - in other words, will they grow up with inappropriate gender rolemodelling? For me, I’d be more concerned about a child experiencing some form of homophobic harassment at school.

In 2010, researchers published results from a study comparing the well-being of children raised by opposite-sex couples with children raised by same-sex couples, and the study found no evidence that children raised by same-sex parents fared any worse than other children on a range of behavioural, educational, emotional, and social outcomes. 

Also read - Durban mom: 'My daughter is gay and I love her anyway'

The researchers also concluded there was no evidence that children raised by a single parent or same-sex couples were less competent or well-rounded than other children. 

What are your thoughts on only heterosexual couples forming families and where do your beliefs on your opinion come from?