Just in case you genuinely believed that Pope Francis was going to turn the Catholic Church around overnight (if at all), consider the comments of one of his newly appointed cardinals. When the pope released the list earlier in the month, it was heralded as a shift toward a more pastoral hierarchy. But the remarks of Cardinal Fernando Sebastián of Spain are a retread of the homophobia that the Vatican has promulgated for the past thirty years, or two millennium, if you count in centuries.
In an interview with the newspaper Diario Sur, Sebastián abandoned the “who am I to judge?” approach that led The Advocate to name Francis as its Person of the Year.
“Homosexuality is a defective manner of expressing sexuality, because [sex] has a structure and a purpose, which is procreation.” the Cardinal said. “A homosexual who can’t achieve this (procreation) is failing.”
Not content to leave bad enough alone, Sebastián then decided to show off his medical knowledge. “Our bodies have many defects. I have high blood pressure.”
How about we take this to the next level?
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But good news for sufferers! Homosexuality can be treated, says the Cardinal, just like hypertension, making it “possible to recover and become normal with the right treatment.”
Just to make sure you know that the Cardinal’s heart is in the right place, he pointed out that saying homosexuality is a defect is “not an insult.”
Why would we ever take it that way?
This kind of rhetoric was bound to bubble up, and we predicted as much when The Advocate splashed Francis on the cover. The roots of homophobia in the Church run deep, particularly given the doctrinal litmus test that the pope’s predecessors used for promotions. The real question is if the pope is truly interested in making things better for the LGBT community, why does someone like Cardinal Sebastián get elevated? That’s the mystery.
Photo credit: Diocesis de Cordoba
Fitz
“Homosexuality is a defective manner of expressing sexuality, because [sex] has a structure and a purpose, which is procreation.” the Cardinal said. “A homosexual who can’t achieve this (procreation) is failing.”
When you start taking advice on the purpose of sex from a Cardinal, you’ve already lost.
Dev.C
I really fail to understand why these Christians believe everyone on the planet is suppose to procreate, do they have no idea that the world is technically already over populated. If it wasn’t for us gays existing we probably would be eating each other by now. Okay that was a little over the top, but do they really believe their own bullshit?
Joetx
“’Homosexuality is a defective manner of expressing sexuality, because [sex] has a structure and a purpose, which is procreation.’ the Cardinal said. ‘A homosexual who can’t achieve this (procreation) is failing.’”
This coming from a guy who is supposed to be celibate???
According to his “logic,” El Cardinal & the rest of the Catholic clergy are “failing,” which I wholeheartedly agree with, albeit for different reasons.
Talk about fighting a losing battle. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2005, loser!
alanj
And the good news is he’s 85 with high blood pressure!
jckfmsincty
Becoming a priest or nun won’t de-gay anyone.
princston
@Dev.C: Do you?
princston
@alanj: and the bad news is that you are going there too, no matter how hard you try to avoid it 😉
Billysees
I wonder why these people think that sex is only for procreation and not for fun also?
Harley
@Billysees: Because to the religious “sex is fun” is considered a sin. Sex is for procreation only. Heterosexual adults who are infertile cannot have sex for fun because it will never produce a child. You go to heaven for the climate. You go to hell for the company.
alanj
@princston:
But hopefully I’ll have a few more years than him and i’ll be able to continue to watch the world slowly change.
gjg64
Catholicism is a defect which can be corrected. And it’s a choice, you’re not born that way.
Kangol
@Billysees:
Mind you, this old queen is hardly “procreating,” so he’s admitting he’s “failing.” Get help, and leave the rest of us alone.
Sorry, Francis, you need a do-over with this thing.
@alanj:
The world doesn’t just change, we have to change it.
newecreator
Ah… I always love to read the comment here. So funny and have points.
Steve Rider
Actually it is belief in Invisible Sky Monsters that can be cured. I recommend objective reality as an upgrade to any and all religions.
Atomicrob
I don’t really know why someone who has spent their life as a celibate would think their comments on sexuality of any sort would have validity. I would not comment on what it’s like to be a Cardinal.
Stefano
Leave him alone. This poor creature never had sex in his life…can you imagine not having sex? That’s why he is frustrated and angry…because WE have fun and he can’t stand it !
tricky ricky
I think belief in the supernatural is a defect caused by being the descendent of a syphilitic village idiot.
Billysees
@Harley:
@Kangol:
I’ve learned over the years to distrust any and many clergy whose words are so dumb and out of touch with the simple realities that we live with every day.
They just don’t represent the good things I’m familiar with.