Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church has historically held a firm stance against homosexuality, with church teachings forbidding the ordination of homosexual men. However, in recent times, there has been a shift towards greater inclusion and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals within the Church. This change has been influenced by figures such as Pope Francis, who made headlines in 2013 with his statement, If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?. Despite this progress, the Church still faces criticism for its handling of sexual abuse scandals and its attitude towards gay Catholics. While the exact number of gay cardinals is not publicly known, there have been allegations and rumours of homosexuality among high-ranking members of the Catholic Church, including cardinals. Some cardinals have even been implicated in sexual abuse scandals, while others have called for a more inclusive approach. The topic of homosexuality within the Catholic Church remains controversial, with ongoing debates and discussions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and the Church's response.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of LGBTQ-positive new cardinals | 21 |
| Cardinals with negative records on LGBTQ+ issues | Two cardinals-elect |
| Cardinals with progressive views on LGBTQ+ issues | Archbishop Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio of Lima, Archbishop Fernando Natalio Chomali Garib of Santiago |
| Cardinals with no public record on LGBTQ+ issues | Archbishop Francis Leo of Toronto, Canada |
| Cardinals with LGBTQ+ sexual abuse scandals | Cardinal Hans Hermann Groër, Archbishop Rembert Weakland of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Juan Carlos Maccarone, Francisco Domingo Barbosa Da Silveira |
| Cardinals with gay rumours | Francis Spellman, Cardinal Archbishop of New York |
| Cardinals with anti-LGBTQ+ views | Cardinal Raymond Burke, Bishop Robert Morlino of Wisconsin |
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What You'll Learn
Gay Catholic cardinals and hypocrisy in the Catholic Church
While the number of gay Catholic cardinals is unknown, there have been several allegations and reports of homosexuality among the clergy. The Catholic Church has historically held a stance against homosexuality, considering it a sin and forbidding the ordination of men with "deeply rooted homosexual tendencies". However, in recent years, there have been calls for more inclusive policies, and some cardinals have been accused of hypocrisy due to their anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and subsequent revelations about their own sexual conduct.
One notable example is Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who was forced to resign as the leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland in 2013 due to allegations of inappropriate acts with four priests during the 1980s and more recently. O'Brien had been vocal in his opposition to same-sex marriage, and his downfall was seen as a case of hypocrisy, as he had failed to uphold the traditional Christian moral virtues he promoted. Similarly, Cardinal Raymond Burke has called for the Church to be "purified" of its "homosexual culture", while Cardinal Francis Spellman, Cardinal Archbishop of New York, was long rumoured to have been gay.
The Catholic Church's stance on LGBTQ+ rights has been a topic of debate, with Pope Francis making headlines in 2013 with his statement, "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?". This statement marked a shift towards more inclusion and humility within the Church. However, Pope Francis's comments were met with criticism from some conservatives within the Church, and his successor, Pope Leo, is believed to hold more centrist views on LGBTQ+ issues.
Despite the Church's official stance, many Catholic clergy either identify as gay or have had sexual relations with other men. This has led to various sex scandals and allegations of misconduct, with some bishops choosing to cover up abuse by moving abusive priests to different parishes rather than addressing the issue directly.
In conclusion, while the exact number of gay Catholic cardinals is unknown, the Catholic Church has grappled with allegations of homosexuality among its clergy and accusations of hypocrisy due to its conflicting messages regarding LGBTQ+ rights. The Church's stance on homosexuality has been a topic of internal and external debate, with some calling for more inclusive policies and an end to the hypocrisy that has plagued the Church's history.
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Pope Francis's support for LGBTQ+ Catholics
While the Catholic Church has long held the belief that homosexuality is a sin and that same-sex couples cannot be married within the Church, Pope Francis, who led the Church from 2013 to 2025, was known for his progressive stance on LGBTQ+ issues. In 2013, he made a statement that would become one of his most famous: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?". This marked a significant shift in tone from previous popes, with Francis emphasising the need to accept, welcome, and accompany LGBTQ+ people, including children, within the Church. He also denounced laws criminalising homosexuality, calling them "unjust".
In 2019, Francis expressed his support for civil-union laws for same-sex couples, stating that "homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They're children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it". This was welcomed by LGBTQ+ groups, who saw it as a positive step towards expanding LGBTQ+ rights. In 2020, a documentary premiered at the Rome Film Festival featuring comments from Francis that were interpreted as support for civil unions for same-sex couples. While the Vatican neither confirmed nor denied the reports, the comments were again well-received by LGBTQ+ organisations.
In 2023, Francis approved the publication of Fiducia supplicans, a Vatican document that permitted priests to bless same-sex marriages under certain circumstances. This was a groundbreaking move, with one commentator noting that "Pope Francis did more for LGBTQ people than all his predecessors combined". During his time as Pope, Francis also approved the publication of a document confirming that transgender people can be baptised.
Despite these progressive steps, some of Francis's comments have been criticised by LGBTQ+ Catholic groups. In 2016, he spoke out against "the ideology of gender", criticising the teaching in schools that "everyone can choose his or her sex". In 2017, he condemned "the biological and psychical manipulation of sexual difference", which some Catholic LGBTQ+ organisations saw as a criticism of transgender people.
Overall, Pope Francis is remembered for his acts of humility and inclusion, and his papacy is seen as a significant departure from the more conservative stance of his predecessor, Pope Leo XIV, who has expressed concern about the "homosexual lifestyle" and the "redefinition of marriage".
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Catholic cardinals with LGBTQ-positive records
While the Catholic Church has long held the belief that homosexuality is a sin and that same-sex couples cannot be married within the Church, there have been some cardinals with LGBTQ-positive records.
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed several new members to his Council of Cardinals, including two with LGBTQ-positive records: Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg and Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston. O'Malley, a longtime close advisor to Pope Francis, welcomed children of LGBTQ+ parents to Catholic schools. However, he demurred when asked about the Vatican's ban on same-gender blessings in 2021, stating that the church needed to proclaim its teaching on marriage.
In 2024, Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals, a number of whom had LGBTQ-positive records. Among them was Father Timothy Radcliffe, OP, a theologian and former Master of the Dominican Order. Radcliffe has an LGBTQ+ record dating back to the 1990s and has served as a spiritual assistant to the Synod on Synodality's General Assembly, where he has broached LGBTQ+ topics.
In addition to these cardinals, there have been others who have shown some level of support for the LGBTQ+ community. For example, Cardinal Zuppi, the former president of the Italian bishops conference, has made several welcoming gestures to LGBTQ+ Catholics and authored the introduction to an Italian book fostering dialogue on the issue. Cardinal Grech has also expressed a certain openness to the LGBTQ+ community, stating that he would help someone seeking his help discover Jesus Christ, regardless of their sexual orientation or relationship.
While these cardinals have shown a more positive attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community, there are also those who have taken a more negative stance. Cardinals like Raymond Burke and Robert Morlino have called for the Church to be "purified" of its "homosexual culture," and some Catholic clergy have even suggested removing all gay clergy from the Church. Despite these opposing views, there is a growing movement within the Catholic Church to build bridges between the LGBTQ+ community and the Church, with Pope Francis appearing to lead the way.
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Catholic cardinals with negative records on LGBTQ+ issues
While there is no exact information on the number of gay Catholic cardinals, there have been several cardinals with negative records on LGBTQ+ issues. Here are some examples:
- Cardinal Raymond Burke has called for the purification of the Catholic Church of its "homosexual culture." He advocates for a stricter adherence to the Church's traditional teachings on sexuality and marriage.
- Cardinal Francis Leo of Toronto, Canada has been criticized by LGBTQ+ activists for a pastoral letter emphasizing devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which they argue refutes Pride Month.
- Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the former leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, resigned in 2013 due to allegations of inappropriate acts with priests during the 1980s and more recently.
- Cardinal Hans Hermann Groër, removed from office by Pope John Paul II in 1998, was accused of sexual misconduct with younger men who were students under his care.
- Cardinal Scipione Borghese, Archbishop of Bologna in the 1600s, was publicly scandalized for his closeness to Cardinal Stefano Pignatelli.
- Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston has a mixed record on LGBTQ+ issues. While he welcomed children of LGBTQ+ parents to Catholic schools, he demurred when asked about the Vatican's ban on same-gender blessings in 2021.
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, was involved in a controversy in 2021 over the Vatican's intervention against enhanced non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in Italian politics.
- Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo of Abidjan, Ivory Coast has preached that LGBTQ+ individuals "need to be healed," a statement that has been criticized by LGBTQ+ advocates.
These examples demonstrate instances where Catholic cardinals have taken positions or been involved in controversies that are not supportive of LGBTQ+ rights and issues. Their actions and statements have often been at odds with the LGBTQ+ community's goals for equality and acceptance within the Catholic Church.
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Historical accounts of gay bishops and cardinals
The existence of LGBTQ+ bishops and cardinals in the Catholic Church is a matter of historical record. While the Catholic Church has long condemned homosexuality as sinful and forbidden same-sex marriages, there is evidence of Catholic leaders engaging in same-sex relationships throughout history.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, a mass condemnation of homosexuality began in Europe, with the Catholic Church forbidding homosexual activity while regarding homosexual orientation as "intrinsically disordered". Despite this, many Catholic clergy, including bishops and cardinals, have been accused of or implicated in homosexual relationships throughout history.
In the 1100s, Anselm of Canterbury argued for moderate punishment for homosexuality, acknowledging the prevalence of the sin. In the 16th century, Pope Julius III was rumoured to have a romantic relationship with a teenage boy, and in the 18th century, Cardinal Henry Benedict Stuart and Archbishop of Genoa Giovanni Lercari were believed to have an emotional and perhaps romantic relationship.
In more recent times, several Catholic bishops and cardinals have been implicated in homosexual scandals or have been supporters of the LGBTQ+ community. In 1995, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of the Diocese of Detroit wore a mitre with symbols of the gay community and has consistently called for homosexual priests and bishops to "come out". In 1998, Cardinal Hans Hermann Groër was removed from office by Pope John Paul II for alleged sexual misconduct with younger men in his care. In 2005, Juan Carlos Maccarone, the Bishop of Santiago del Estero in Argentina, was forced to resign after images were released of him engaging in sexual activity with another man. In 2013, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, was forced to resign as archbishop due to allegations of inappropriate acts with four priests.
In addition to these scandals, there have been rumours and accusations of homosexuality among other Catholic cardinals and archbishops, including Francis Spellman, Archbishop of New York, and Cardinal Scipione Borghese, Archbishop of Bologna. While some have faced consequences for their alleged actions, the exact number of gay Catholic cardinals remains unknown, and the Church's stance on homosexuality continues to evolve.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church has traditionally held the view that homosexuality is a sin and that same-sex couples cannot be married within the Church. However, in 2023, Pope Francis expressed support for the blessings of same-sex unions on a case-by-case basis.
While there is no official information on the number of LGBTQ+ cardinals, there have been several allegations and speculations about the sexual orientation of certain cardinals. For example, in 1998, it was rumoured that Cardinal Hans Hermann Groër was involved in sexual misconduct with younger men, and in 2013, Cardinal Keith O'Brien was forced to resign due to allegations of inappropriate acts with priests. Additionally, Pope Francis has named several LGBTQ-positive cardinals, indicating a potential shift in the Church's stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
Pope Francis, who was regarded as a progressive, made a statement in 2013: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?". He also supported the blessings of same-sex unions on a case-by-case basis in 2023. However, Pope Leo, who was elected in 2025, marks a departure from Francis's stance, and his exact views on LGBTQ+ rights are yet to be fully understood.
Catholic conservatives have often connected the incidence of homosexuality within the priesthood to the sexual abuse scandals facing the Church. They have called for a purification" of the Church's "homosexual culture" and for the removal of gay clergy. Some have also suggested that homosexuality is the root cause of the abuse, rather than issues such as abuse of power or institutional homophobia.
