The topic of homosexuality has sparked numerous social controversies throughout history. Within the Catholic Church it is difficult to say how to deal with this problem. Many believe that reforms will be necessary within the Church, however the current pope, Pope Francis, does not believe this is the case. This sparked a debate among Church members. Traditionally, homosexuality itself is seen within the Catholic Church as morally evil and has never been accepted. Pastoral counseling was offered to enable Church members who identify as homosexuals to help them remain good members of the Church. To determine the true root of the issue, a reflection on the history of the Church and the influences in terms of the development of prejudices against homosexuality may be necessary. Some individuals believe that a change in doctrine is necessary to resolve the problems surrounding homosexuality within the Church, while others support Pope Francis and believe that progress can be made without having to undergo such a drastic change. As gay rights continues to become an increasingly visible issue in today's global society, the Catholic Church does not need to consider a change in doctrine, however members of the Church must consider following Pope Francis' suggestions by becoming more open and tolerant towards the idea of ​​homosexuals within the Catholic community. Christian views on sexuality were not developed on the basis of Christian beliefs alone. The Hellenistic perspective became a major influence on the development of Christian theology because of its opposing views to what Catholic people believed to be morally correct. Homosexuality was not something... made of paper... conformed to a heterosexual life in order to remain a member of the Church. Others believe that as long as the people in question lead a life of complete abstinence, they should be allowed to freely follow their faith. Since becoming Pope, Pope Francis has instilled a more welcoming atmosphere within the Church. He believes that as long as an individual puts their faith first and understands that the Church does not allow them to have sexual relations with their partner, they have no right to judge their personal opinions. Shifting people's attention to God has been the main goal of Pope Francis since the beginning of his pontificate. If this idea were more widely accepted, the Church as a whole would be able to focus more on the basis of its faith rather than social issues, allowing the Church to be seen as a welcoming community of people who worship God..