I'm not a Catholic, but I find this breathtaking in a way...
On his return flight from Brazil, where he had spoken at World Youth Day, Pope Francis held an impromptu press conference aboard; such a thing had not been done by a Pope in recent memory. He answered questions for approximately 90 minutes.
The most interesting point came when His Holiness was asked about the existence of a "gay lobby" within the Vatican. His answer surprised many; follow me beyond the Great Orange Colophon for details...
As reported by USA Today, the Pope replied to the 'gay lobby' question with this:
"When I meet a gay person, I have to distinguish between their being gay and being part of a lobby," the pope said. "If they accept the Lord and have good will, who am I to judge them? They shouldn't be marginalized. The tendency (to be homosexual) is not the problem. They are our brothers."
Now this struck me as something of a wide-open response. He didn't answer in the context of the priesthood alone, but referred to all gays.
It will be quite interesting to see what repercussions may come from this inclusive comment. Specifically, what could it mean for LGBT folks among the laity? If nothing else, it would seem to provide support for those working for change in their local parishes...your thoughts?