Archbishop Fernando Sebastian Aguilar, who is one of 19 prelates chosen by Pope Francis to become a cardinal next month, believes homosexuality is a defect that can be corrected with the right treatment.
CNSNews.com is reporting on an interview Archbishop Aguilar had with the AFP on Sunday in which he spoke unabashedly about homosexuality.
“We have a lot of defects in our bodies,” the 84 year-old archbishop said. “I have high blood pressure. Am I going to get angry because they tell me that? It is a defect I have that I have to correct as far as I can.”
He went on to say that “Pointing out a defect to a homosexual is not an offense, it is a help because many cases of homosexuality can be recovered and normalized with adequate treatment. It is not an offense, it is esteem. When someone has a defect, the good friend is the one who tells him.”
Disregarding all attempts to be politically correct, the archbishop acknowledged that his statement might draw the ire of some. “A lot of people complain and don’t tolerate it but with all respect I say that homosexuality is a defective way of manifesting sexuality, because that has a structure and a purpose, which is procreation.”
As expected, gay activist groups such as Colegas fired back with a demand that the archbishop retract his statement.
“We hope that Fernando Sebastian will correct his words and we note that homosexuality is not a curable disease, but homophobia is,” it said in a statement.
The archbishop said he agreed with Pope Francis’ remarks last year about not judging homosexuals who seek Christ with good will; however, he pointed out that neither he nor the pope is contradicting Church teaching with this attitude. “It is one thing to show welcome and affection to a homosexual person and another to morally justify the exercise of homosexuality,” he said.
Archbishop Aguilar, whose advanced age makes him ineligible to vote in the next conclave, will be officially installed as a cardinal in a Vatican ceremony scheduled to take place on February 22. He is currently serving as the archbishop emeritus of the diocese of Pamplona and Tudela in Northern Spain.
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