Gay rights groups are disappointed

BRITISH gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: “The election of Cardinal Ratzinger as the new Pope is a disaster for women, gay people and liberal humanitarian values.

“He represents the hardline, fundamentalist strand of Catholicism, opposing condoms to prevent the spread of HIV, rejecting women’s rights, denouncing fertility treatment for childless couples and endorsing state-sanctioned discrimination against gay people.

“Cardinal Ratzinger has always put Church dogma before the Christian values of love and compassion.

“He symbolises the patriarchy and homophobia of orthodox Catholicism.

“The new Pope wants to maintain a centralised, authoritarian church, crushing dissent and autonomy.

“As chief doctrinal adviser to the late Pope, his opposition to the use of condoms has contributed to the death of millions from HIV.

“Ratzinger could have authorised a Vatican declaration that, if people cannot abstain from sex, they have a moral duty to use a condom to prevent the spread of HIV.”

Mr Tatchell also criticised the new pontiff’s stance on homosexuality and claimed he had “blood on his hands” because of persecution of gays and lesbians.