Pope Francis has accused conservative bishops in the United States of holding a "suicidal attitude" towards the church's evolution, in a rare new interview with CBS News.
In a candid interview with CBS News' "60 Minutes" that aired on Sunday, Pope Francis addressed his controversial comments about LGBTQ individuals and the Vatican's endorsement of blessings for individuals in same-sex relationships. When asked about his message to conservative bishops in the U.S. who have criticized his efforts to revisit teachings and traditions, Francis responded with a scathing critique.
"You used an adjective, 'conservative.' That is, conservative is one who clings to something and does not want to see beyond that," Francis said.
He further elaborated, "It is a suicidal attitude. Because one thing is to take tradition into account, to consider situations from the past, but quite another is to be closed up inside a dogmatic box."
Francis's criticism of conservative bishops stems from their opposition to his progressive views on LGBTQ issues. In particular, his comments about the possibility of same-sex union blessings have drawn significant backlash from conservative quarters.
During the interview, Francis clarified that he had not blessed same-sex couples in the union of marriage, but rather allowed priests to bless each person as an individual. "No, what I allowed was not to bless the union. That cannot be done because that is not the sacrament. I cannot. The Lord made it that way," he stated. "But to bless each person, yes. The blessing is for everyone."
Francis's remarks have sparked a heated debate within the Catholic Church, highlighting the growing divide between progressive and conservative factions. Conservative critics have accused him of undermining traditional church teachings, while supporters have welcomed his embrace of a more inclusive and compassionate approach.
In a separate interview, Francis blasted conservative Catholics and bishops in the U.S. as holding a "backward" view on faith and the church. He warned that such an attitude leads to a climate of closure and a disconnection from the roots of the church.
"When you go backward, you make something closed off, disconnected from the roots of the church. … I want to remind these people that backwardness is useless, and they must understand that there’s a correct evolution in the understanding of questions of faith and morals," Francis cautioned.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
