(CWNews.com, 26 January 2004) The 80-year-old Belgian cardinal was quoted last week as saying that most homosexuals are sexual perverts and not "effectively lesbian or gay".
Cardinal Gustaaf Joos told a Belgian magazine, "I am willing to write in my own blood that of all those who call themselves lesbian or gay, a maximum of five to 10 percent are effectively lesbian or gay. All the rest are just sexual perverts." He added, "Real homosexuals don't wander in the streets in colorful suits. Those are people who have a serious problem and have to live with that. And if they make a mistake they will be forgiven. We have to help these people and not judge them." He also repeated the Church's teaching that while homosexuality is a sin, Christians do not reject homosexuals as persons.
The Belgian bishops' conference said Cardinal Joos was speaking in a private capacity and that it did not have the power to reprimand the cardinal because he was answerable directly to the Vatican.
Most Gays Are Perverts