Vatican chief claims link between homosexuality and paedophilia
Vatican secretary of state made the controversial claim while visiting Chile
Wednesday, 14, Apr 2010 03:13
By Emer Martin.
The Vatican's secretary of state has claimed there is a link between homosexuality and paedophilia in a televised press conference in Chile's capital Santiago.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who is considered to be the Pope's right-hand man, said yesterday that homosexuality and not celibacy is to blame for the sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church.
He said: "Many psychologists and psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relationship between celibacy and paedophilia. But many others have demonstrated, I have been told recently, that there is a relationship between homosexuality and paedophilia. That is true. That is the problem."
Some commentators believe the comment was prompted by increased pressure placed on the Vatican to lift the celibacy rule. Last week Costa Rica's president Oscar Arias urged the Church to "correct the error".
The comments have sparked outrage among gay right groups. In Italy, a well-known gay-rights charity, Arcigay, have lashed out at the Vatican saying the cardinal's comments were "shocking and irresponsible".
But the Holy See has today issued a statement attempting to close the case stating that Cardinal Bertone was referring to the problem of abuse within the Catholic Church and not to the world as a whole. The Vatican claims 60 per cent of abuses against children within the church have been committed by homosexual priests.
But the Cardinal's comments have added another blow the Vatican's diminishing credibility.
The French foreign ministry issued a statement to the Vatican today condemning Cardinal Bertone's claim, saying he made an "unacceptable connection" between homosexuality and paedophilia. Spokesperson for the foreign ministry, Bernard Valero, said: "France has a duty to fight discrimination and prejudice concerning sexual orientation and gender identity."
This latest smear against a minority group comes after another Catholic clergyman, retired bishop Giacomo Babini, is reported to have alluded to a Zionist conspiracy behind the abuse allegations, claiming the Jews to be the "natural enemy" of the Catholic Church.
Pope Benedict XVI continues to hold silence over the issue of sexual abuse by Catholic priests.