Pope Francis made a controversial statement on same-sex marriages encouraging officials not to issue marriage licenses to gays thus breaking the laws of the countries where same-sex marriages are legal.
Pope Francis
Speaking to the press upon returning to Rome from his American trip, Pope Francis, has told officials who obliged to issue same-sex marriage licenses, that they have the right to do so if it 'violates their conscience'.
The Pontiff encouraged officials to refuse issuing marriage licenses to homosexuals claiming that officials who are not willing to do their duties despite their country’s law, have a human right' for that.
Answering the question whether he supports those government officials who refuse to register gay marriages thus violating the law, Francis said that "conscientious objection must enter into every juridical structure because it is a right", while also adding that "if someone does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right."
"I can't have in mind all cases that can exist about conscientious objection but, yes, I can say that conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right," the pontiff added.
It can be recalled that three weeks ago, a Christian clerk, Kim Davis of Rowan County, Ky., who refused to issue gay licenses to gay people has been jailed in the US.