Homosexuality is a defect, declares Pope’s new cardinal

The Pope’s newly chosen Spanish cardinal, Fernando Sebastian Aguilar, 84, has described homosexuality as a “defect” that can be corrected with treatment, sparking condemnation from gay rights groups.

“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,” Sebastian told the Malaga newspaper, Sur.

The interview was published a week after the Spaniard was named as one of 19 new cardinals chosen by the Pope, to be officially appointed on Feb 22.

“We have a lot of defects in our bodies. 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,” said the cleric, who is the archbishop emeritus of Pamplona.

“Pointing out a defect to a homosexual is not an offence, it is a help because many cases of homo-sexuality can be recovered and normalised with adequate treatment.

“It is not an offence, it is esteem. When someone has a defect, the good friend is the one who tells him.”

The archbishop was asked in the interview if he shared the view of Pope Francis, who said in July last year: “If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?” — comments that led to the Pope being named Person of the Year 2013 by leading gay rights magazine The Advocate.

The Spanish archbishop, who, because of his age, will not hold a vote in the conclave that elects pontiffs, said the Pope shows respect to all people but is not changing the teaching of the Church.

“It is one thing to show welcome and affection to a homosexual person and another to morally justify the exercise of homo-sexuality,” he said.

Gay and lesbian rights group Colegas called on the archbishop to retract.

“We hope that Fernando Sebastian will correct his words and we note that homosexuality is not a curable disease, but homophobia is,” it said.

Nicolas Fernandez, head of Malaga-based gay and lesbian rights group Entiende, added his condemnation.

“It is not the first time the cardinals have said we are defective,” he said, calling for non-discrimination legislation that would condemn such “repugnant” statements.

Maria Gamez, spokes- man for the left-wing PSOE party, said: “These are not the winds of change that appear to be blowing from the Vatican. “Pope Francis seemed to have distanced himself from these retrograde, insulting and anti constitutional theses.

“He should be asking himself whether a cardinal like this is helping the regeneration he defends.”