PopUps: Singer Hozier Criticizes Pope's Stance on Gay Rights
"Take Me to Church" singer Hozier has called out the Pope's reported views on the LGBT community, calling the Catholic Church leaders stance "lip service."
The Irish singer sat down with Kelly Osbourne, co-host of "Larry King Now," Monday and talked about his chart-topping single, which details his frustration with the Catholic Church and homosexuality. He told Osbourne he wrote the song in response to the church's "aversion to homosexuality."
"This is one of the paradoxes and weird hypocrisy of that organization," Hozier said of the Catholic Church. "The Pope came here last year and said, 'Who am I to judge with regards to somebody's sexual orientation?'"
He continued: "I think it is important to differentiate between lip service towards something and actually making change. I think it is hopeful, but saying this in 2015, 'Who am I to judge?' is something that should have been said 100 years ago."
"It is [an institution] that has institutionalized gender inequality as well, dangerous policy over contraception and, in this case, it still harbors an irrational aversion to homosexuality," he added. "Which, in my view, I think that is why I was driven to write 'Take Me To Church.' I think the church provides an excuse for homophobia."
Hozier talked about the meaning of "Take Me to Church" in September with Irish present Gay Byrne, saying he wants the Catholic Church to stay out of people's relationships, NME reports.
"I think the Catholic Church has a very unique position in Ireland, that all of these things are influenced and have been very heavily influenced over the years by that organization," he said at the time. "I'm not cross about the idea of baptism, I just think the idea that when a child is born it is inherently sinful and carries sin and needs to be cleaned in order for it to be all right and all good with its creator, I just think that's an absurd notion."
Watch Hozier's comments with Osbourne by clicking here. Check out the music video for "Take Me to Church" below.