Children may lose out with the election of Pope Francis.
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In matters of religion, it is common for conservatives and liberals to butt heads, but the election of Pope Francis is likely to toss more coals onto the debating fires, as he is known for his hard-line approach to matters of faith, according to Huffington Post.
Central to his approach are the tenets of austerity and personal holiness, which are central themes to his public speaking. More controversially, though, he has also reportedly asserted that:
- (In 2010) "Gay adoption is a form of discrimination against children, earning a public rebuke from Argentina's President.”
- “Same-sex marriage attacks God's plan”.
"Sexual abuse silence"He is also vocally opposed to contraception and abortion, and, according to
BishopAccountability.org, a watchdog group within the clergy, Francis "encountered many cases of sexual abuse in the years when he was an auxiliary bishop and then the archbishop of Buenos Aires. Yet he has been content for the most part to
remain silent."
Claims of sexual abuse within the church, especially of clergy
preying on children and how the church chose to resolve such matters internally, plagued the papacy of Pope Benedict IX, and Pope Francis will be called upon to continue the debate on accountability regarding sexual predators or abusers within the church, as well as restitution for
survivors of abuse.
Do you think children’s rights will be compromised by the new pope?
By: Scott Dunlop