Pope Francis: "Being homosexual isn't a crime"
In an interview with the Associated Press, Pope Francis explained that Catholic bishops that support laws criminalizing homosexuality or otherwise discriminate against Queer people should be, in a sense, more welcoming.

"These bishops have to have a process of conversion," he said, and should apply "tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us."

While he still referred to homosexuality as a "sin," his comments were his first on such discriminatory laws, which he declared "unjust." He said the Catholic Church should work to put an end to them. "It must do this," he said. "It must do this."

"We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are and for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity," he added.

"It's not a crime," he said of homosexuality. "Yes, but it's a sin. Fine, but first let's distinguish between a sin and a crime. It's also a sin to lack charity with one another."

The Catholic Church still, as of a decree in 2021, refuses to bless same-sex unions.

Church of England apology "hollow and cruel"
In the same collective breath, the Church of England on Friday refused to marry same-sex couples in its churches, and issued a formal apology to LGBTQ people, for its historical treatment of the community.

"We want to apologize for the ways in which the Church of England has treated LGBTQI+ people — both those who worship in our churches and those who do not," the bishops said. "For the time we have rejected or excluded you, and those you love, we are deeply sorry. The occasions on which you have received a hostile and homophobic response in our churches are shameful, and for this we repent."

Jayne Ozanne, a prominent advocate for greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church, wasn't impressed.

"We've had apology after apology after apology, and this one frankly, sounds hollow and cruel," Ozanne wrote on Twitter. "Because if you apologize and then carry on with the abuse, it is akin to domestic abuse. The fact that the bishops don't see that is what angers me."