Express
January 22, 2014
One of Pope Francis’ newly-elected cardinals has provoked fury by claiming gay people suffer from a “sexual deficiency” which can be cured with treatment.
Spaniard Fernando Sebastian Aguilar was dubbed a dinosaur after likening homosexuality to his high blood pressure.
He claimed in an interview with Malaga-based newspaper Diario Sur: “Homosexuality is a deficient way of manifesting sexuality, because sexuality has a structure and an objective which is procreation.
“Homosexuality, which cannot achieve this objective, is failing.
“This is not an insult for anyone. In our body we have many deficiencies.”
He added: “Saying homosexuals suffer a deficiency is not an offence, it’s a help because many cases of homosexuality can be recovered and normalised with the appropriate treatment.”
The 84-year Archbishop emeritus of Pamplona, one of 19 new cardinals named by Pope Francis last week, went on to reveal he had high blood pressure which he sees as “a deficiency I have to correct as I can.”
His claims, which follow Pope Francis’ assertion last year gay people should not be marginalised but integrated into society, were immediately attacked by local politicians.
The Pope elevated the controversial archbishop to the rank of cardinal in recognition of his life-long service to the church, although he is not among the 16 cardinals who were given voting rights and will one day elect his successor.