Issue: Did Pope Francis Give Sign Welcoming Gay Parishioners?

Pope Francis recently celebrated Mass before 3 million people at Rio’s Copacabana Beach. But a far smaller audience of reporters later heard him utter words that few ever expected of a Roman Catholic leader:  “Who am I to judge a gay person?”

“The pontiff broached the delicate question of how he would respond to learning that a cleric in his ranks was gay, though not sexually active,” Huffington Post reported. “For decades, the Vatican has regarded homosexuality as a ‘disorder,’ and Pope Francis' predecessor Pope Benedict XVI formally barred men with what the Vatican deemed ‘deep-seated’ homosexuality from entering the priesthood.

Speaking in Italian, the pontiff said: “Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord? You can't marginalize these people.”

Nobody is expecting openly homosexual priests flooding the parishes. But could this be a sign that gay parishioners will be embraced by the church? Share your thoughts in the comments.