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The Vatican has sought to “clarify” remarks made by a senior cardinal, who linked homosexuality with paedophilia in the abuse scandal facing the Church.
A spokesman provided “data” to support the claim, but also said Church leaders were not trying to make assertions of a “psychological or medical nature”.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said it was homosexuality - not clerical celibacy - which lay behind the abuse of children.
Earlier, France condemned the cardinal for making “an unacceptable linkage”.
Earlier this month, Pope Benedict’s personal preacher apologised for having compared criticism of the Roman Catholic Church over abuse allegations to “the collective violence suffered by the Jews”.
In a sermon, Father Raniero Cantalamessa likened allegations that the Vatican had systematically hushed up cases of sexual abuse of children by priests to the “most shameful aspects of anti-Semitism”, with the use of stereotypes and the spreading of collective guilt.
The Vatican said his remarks did not represent its official view.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8620135.stm
A spokesman provided “data” to support the claim, but also said Church leaders were not trying to make assertions of a “psychological or medical nature”.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said it was homosexuality - not clerical celibacy - which lay behind the abuse of children.
Earlier, France condemned the cardinal for making “an unacceptable linkage”.
Earlier this month, Pope Benedict’s personal preacher apologised for having compared criticism of the Roman Catholic Church over abuse allegations to “the collective violence suffered by the Jews”.
In a sermon, Father Raniero Cantalamessa likened allegations that the Vatican had systematically hushed up cases of sexual abuse of children by priests to the “most shameful aspects of anti-Semitism”, with the use of stereotypes and the spreading of collective guilt.
The Vatican said his remarks did not represent its official view.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8620135.stm