Homosexuality 'a defect that can be treated', says cardinal

A new cardinal chosen by Pope Francis has described homosexuality as a 'defect' that can be corrected with treatment.

The 84-year-old Spanish cardinal Fernando Aguilar made the comments in an interview with Malaga newspaper Sur, published a week after he was named as one of 19 new cardinals.

"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," said Archbishop Aguilar.

"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,"

"Pointing out a defect to a homosexual is not an offence, it is a help because many cases of homosexuality 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 Spanish gay rights group Colegas have called on the archbishop to retract his comment.

Pope Francis has previously taken a more conciliatory stance on the issue, saying in July last year: "If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?"