24/02/2023
Muslims for Progressive Vales, a network based in the US with much international work in challenging fundamentalism and emphasising the liberal and tolerant traditions within Islam, has welcomed the recent remarks by the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, that homosexuality should not be considered a crime anywhere, even if some Catholic leaders consider it to be a “sin”. The MPV Network goes on “u might be asking yourself why the opinion of the Pope is of any concern to a Muslim organization? Well, in Africa, where MPV does much of our international work, laws that criminalize homosexuality are often advocated for and supported by the Catholic Bishops. And not far behind are the Muslim religious leaders, because when it comes to homosexuality and women’s rights, there really isn’t that much sunlight between the two orthodox interpretations of these religious traditions.
In the same interview, the Pope also said, “These bishops have to have a process of conversion,” adding that they should apply, “tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us”, the same framing MPV intentionally incorporates into all of its work, a framing that advocates for love and compassion for all.”
