Vatican views on gays rebuked

Belgian cardinal Gustaaf Joos will be sued by a human rights group for violating human rights laws after condemning most lesbians and gay men as sexual perverts, Reuters reported.

Joos told Belgian publication P-Magazine that of all of those who say they are lesbian or gay, at most five to 10 percent are effectively lesbian or gay. All the rest are sexual perverts -¦

Real homosexuals don’t wander in the streets in colourful suits. Those are people who have a serious problem and have to live with that, Joos said, whose official uniform as cardinal consists of bright red robes and a scarlet berretta.

The Centre For Equal Opportunities And Struggle Against Racism announced in a statement this week the 80-year-old cardinal had violated the country’s anti-discrimination laws and would be sued. According to Reuters, the statement declared, The case was made worse by the fact the cardinal stood by his comments, not apologising and repeating them elsewhere in the media and in front of cameras.

Joos was made cardinal last year by Pope John Paul II, who also weighed in this week with an attack on homosexuality as seen on TV.

In the lead-up to the Catholic Church’s World Communications Day, the pope released a statement condemning the uncritical depiction of sexual activity outside of marriage and the positive support -¦ at times given to divorce, contraception, abortion and homosexuality.

Avid viewer Pope John Paul II added, Such portrayals, by promoting causes inimical to marriage and the family, are detrimental to the common good of society.