Podcast: Pope Francis used a homophobic slur. How should Catholics respond?

This week on “Jesuitical,” we’re breaking from our usual format to discuss news out of the Vatican that Pope Francis used a homophobic slur while discussing church policy on admitting gay men to the priesthood. To discuss this incident and the apology that followed, Ashley is joined by “Jesuitical” producer Sebastian Gomes; Mike O’Loughlin, executive director of Outreach, a resource for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics; and Ricardo da Silva, S.J., producer of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, host of the “Preach” podcast and an associate editor at America.

They discuss:

• The context of the incident, the Vatican’s response, and the implications for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics
• Vatican policy about gay men in seminaries and the history of Francis’ outreach to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics
• Advice for those affected by the pope’s comments

Links from the show:

• I am a gay priest. We need more than an apology for Pope Francis’ homophobic slur.
• Pope Francis used an anti-gay slur. What now for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics?
• Pope Francis says Italian seminaries should reject gay applicants
• Vatican issues apology after Pope Francis’ use of an anti-gay slur
• Pope Francis’ remarks about gay seminarians ‘taken out of context and used to divide,’ Italian bishop says