VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI Reiterates role of priests as Vatican under fire for linking gays to paedophilia

Record ID: 334794

  • Title: VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI Reiterates role of priests as Vatican under fire for linking gays to paedophilia
  • Date: 15th April 2010
  • Summary: VATICAN CITY (APRIL 14, 2020) (REUTERS) PILGRIMS LEAVING SAINT PETER'S SQUARE AFTER GENERAL AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRIS MALLET FROM THE UNITED STATES SAYING: "I think that one or two slip ups.. that needs to be handled by the Pope really but I don't think that one person's mistake should affect the entire catholic church or their trying to spread religion and peace throughout the world. I think that's still possible (despite the abuse scandals)." SAINT PETER'S BASILICA VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ANNA STARDI SAYING "I think (Cardinal Tarciso Bertone's remarks on homosexuality) are outside of our times. Religion should follow the times, it is not the times that should adapt to religion. It's absurd. We are no longer in the middle ages. I would say that all religions have to respect human nature. Cardinal Bertone still reasons as somebody who imposes things on people from above". PILGRIMS AND TOURISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSTY JONES FROM ARIZONA, U.S.A., SAYING: "I definitely agree that a pedophile and a person who participates in activities of homosexuality are related and that it's not good for society, it's not good for our families." ROME, ITALY (APRIL 14, 2010) (REUTERS) VETERAN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT MARCO POLITI IN SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (English) VATICAN CORRESPONDENT MARCO POLITI SAYING: "This statement (from cardinal Bertone) out of the blue is a sign of the confusion which exists now in the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI is very much engaged in fighting against the sex abuse scandal and just a couple of days ago cardinal (Angelo) Sodano was speaking about the gossip of the media when he was speaking about a very serious problem. Now cardinal Bertone is speaking about the link between homosexuality and pedophilia which is absolutely not true and which is refused even by the Italian association of catholic psychiatrists." VATICAN CITY (APRIL 14, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SAINT PETER'S BASILICA
  • Embargoed: 30th April 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVABTDMP3QW3I9FTIKMR9NX7ZV36
  • Story Text: Pope Benedict strove to reiterate his views on the role of priests in society on Wednesday (April 14) as the Vatican once more hit the headlines this time by having linked homosexuality to pedophilia.
    The comments were made by the pontiff's number two Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone during a visit to Chile. He called homosexuality a "pathology" and linking it directly to sexual abuse of children.
    As the scandal over sexual abuse of children by priests has spread, some in the Catholic Church have called for a review of the Church's rule that prohibits priests from marrying, saying marriage would allow priests to enjoy a healthy sex life.
    So far the pope has only broadly dealt with the issue and during the general audience at the Vatican he called for priests to "be a representative of Christ, to bring the light of God's word, the light of Christ into the confusion and bewilderment of our times".
    "The priest's (munus docendi) teaching mission demands that his whole life testify to the truth of the message that he proclaims, in harmony with the apostolic tradition and often in opposition to the spirit of the dominant culture," the pope said addressing thousands who had gathered to hear him at the Vatican.
    Many hope the pope will address the sexual abuse issue during his visit to Malta this weekend. There is some speculation he may meet some people who have claimed to be abused during the trip.
    Whilst the Pope has come under extreme pressure for his handling of the case he still has massive support from millions of catholics around the world.
    "I think that one or two slip ups.. that needs to be handled by the Pope really, but I don't think that one person's mistake should affect the entire Catholic church or their trying to spread religion and peace throughout the world," said Chris Mallet from the United States after the general audience.
    The Catholic church came in for strong criticism about the homosexuality linkage to the scandal with comments ranging from the French foreign ministry who called it an "unacceptable linkage that we condemn".
    Italian newspapers and some pro-Vatican Catholic blogs said more controversy was the last thing the Vatican needed now.
    "I think (Cardinal Tarciso Bertone's remarks on homosexuality) are outside of our times. Religion should follow the times, it is not the times that should adapt to religion. It's absurd. We are no longer in the middle ages. I would say that all religions have to respect human nature. Cardinal Bertone still reasons as somebody who imposes things on people from above," said Anna Stardi at the Vatican.
    But some people attending the general audience wholeheartedly agreed with the cardinal's comments.
    "I definitely agree that a pedophile and a person who participates in activities of homosexuality are related and that it's not good for society, it's not good for our families," said Rusty Jones from Arizona, United States.
    Vatican specialists agreed that the Bertone comments could only be harmful to the church at this particularly difficult time for the pontiff.
    "This statement (from Cardinal Bertone) out of the blue is a sign of the confusion which exists now in the Vatican."' Vatican specialist Marco Politi told Reuters.
    "Pope Benedict XVI is very much engaged in fighting against the sex abuse scandal and just a couple of days ago cardinal (Angelo) Sodano was speaking about the ("petty") gossip of the media when he was speaking about a very serious problem. Now cardinal Bertone is speaking about the link between homosexuality and pedophilia which is absolutely not true and which is refused even by the Italian association of catholic psychiatrists," Politi said.
    The pope is expected to answer journalists questions whilst onboard the plane travelling to Malta on Saturday (April 17).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register