Pope Francis' newest Spanish Cardinal has called homosexuality a physical “defect” that can be cured.
Recently elected Fernando Sebastian Aguilar from Spain, 85, who takes up his office in the Vatican in February, has sparked fury from gay rights groups after branding homosexuality a "defective manner of expressing sexuality."
He even likened the sexual orientation to long lasting physical ailments like high blood pressure, which he suffers from.
"[Sex] has a structure and a purpose, which is procreation," he said.
"A homosexual who can't achieve this [procreation] is failing."
He continued: "Our bodies have many defects. I have high blood pressure."
In an interview with Diario Sur the newly elected cardinal remained defiant against comments from LGBT groups that his words were "medieval" and "out of place in this time."
He insisted that calling homosexuality a defect was “not an insult” but is helpful because it is “possible to recover and become normal with the right treatment."
Aguilar also claimed the Pope's more positive attitudes towards gay people had been manipulated.
He said: "All he is doing is offering comprehension and compassion and showing a desire to welcome those who have gone astray."
"The pope is very respectful and holds all people in high esteem but he doesn't betray or change the traditional teaching of the church.
“It's one thing to be compassionate towards a homosexual person and another thing to morally justify the practice of that homosexuality," he said.
"You can tell a person what their weakness is but that doesn't justify a decision to respect them and help them.'
Maria Gamez, spokesman for the PSOE party in Malaga, blasted Aguilar's anti-gay sentiments.
He said: "These are not the winds of change that appear to be blowing from the Vatican.
"Pope Francis seemed to have distanced himself from these retrograde, insulting and anti constitutional theses.
"He should be asking himself whether a cardinal like this is helping the regeneration he defends."
But the Pope’s own record on gay rights was sullied late last year after the Bishop of Malta said the pontiff was “shocked” by gay adoption in an interview with The Sunday Times of Malta.
Pope Francis Quotes On The Poor
Stealing from the tables of the the poor(01 of21)
Open Image Modal'Money Has To Serve, Not To Rule!'(02 of21)
Open Image Modal'Poor Church For The Poor'(03 of21)
Open Image ModalMen And Women Sacrificed To the Idols Of Profit (04 of21)
Open Image Modal'If Banks Fail It is A Tragedy, If People Die Of Hunger It's Nothing'(05 of21)
Open Image ModalChoose A Humble Car(06 of21)
Open Image Modal'Slave Labor Goes Against God' (07 of21)
Open Image Modal(08 of21)
Open Image Modal"To live charitably means not looking out for our own interests, but carrying the burdens of the weakest and poorest among us." (credit:@pontifex)
(09 of21)
Open Image Modal"We cannot sleep peacefully while babies are dying of hunger and the elderly are without medical assistance." (credit:@pontifex)
(10 of21)
Open Image Modal"There are many people in need in today’s world. Am I self-absorbed in my own concerns or am I aware of those who need help?" (credit:@pontifex)
(11 of21)
Open Image Modal"True charity requires courage: let us overcome the fear of getting our hands dirty so as to help those in need." (credit:@pontifex)
(12 of21)
Open Image Modal"The “throw-away” culture produces many bitter fruits, from wasting food to isolating many elderly people." (credit:@pontifex)
(13 of21)
Open Image Modal"If money and material things become the center of our lives, they seize us and make us slaves." (credit:@pontifex)
(14 of21)
Open Image Modal"Let us ask the Lord to give us the gentleness to look upon the poor with understanding and love, devoid of human calculation and fear." (credit:@pontifex)
(15 of21)
Open Image Modal"Take care of God’s creation. But above all, take care of people in need." (credit:@pontifex)
(16 of21)
Open Image Modal"To live charitably means not looking out for our own interests, but carrying the burdens of the weakest and poorest among us." (credit:@pontifex)
(17 of21)
Open Image Modal"How marvellous it would be if, at the end of the day, each of us could say: today I have performed an act of charity towards others!" (credit:@pontifex)
No More 'Profit At Any Cost'(18 of21)
Open Image Modal"My thoughts turn to all who are unemployed, often as a result of a self-centred mindset bent on profit at any cost." (credit:@pontifex)
'Prayer, Humility, Charity'(19 of21)
Open Image Modal"Prayer, humility, and charity toward all are essential in the Christian life: they are the way to holiness." (credit:@pontifex)
'Moral And Material Poverty'(20 of21)
Open Image Modal"How many kinds of moral and material poverty we face today as a result of denying God and putting so many idols in his place!" (credit:@pontifex)
On Waste(21 of21)
Open Image Modal"Consumerism has accustomed us to waste. But throwing food away is like stealing it from the poor and hungry." (credit:@pontifex)