By Father Edward
ABC News
April 15, 2010
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Spirituality/gay-priests-problem/story?id=10381964
The sex abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church took yet one more turn this week when statements by the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, second only to Pope Benedict, linked pedophilia to homosexuality.
Bertone said: "Many psychologists, many psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relationship between celibacy and pedophilia but many others have demonstrated that there is a relationship between homosexuality and pedophilia."
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| Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone speaks during an interview by the Associated |
France, where an estimated 60 percent of the population are Catholic, became the first country to officially dismiss the remarks when foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told reporters that "This is unacceptable linkage and we condemn this. France is firmly engaged in the struggle against discrimination and prejudice linked to sexual orientation and gender identity."
Other Church and lay leaders similarly have called the remarks outrageous and ill-informed. While en route to the United States in 2008, Pope Benedict said that he considered homosexuality and pedophilia to be separate matters. So why would Cardinal Bertone make his statements? And what is the real truth behind any association of pedophilia and homosexuality?
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