By Michael Baggot
MANILA, Philippines, May 5, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales announced today that parishes that allow homosexuals to march in drag in religious festivals will not be permitted to offer Mass due to their sacrilegious behavior.
The Cardinal took the disciplinary step in light of attempts by openly practicing homosexual men to play parts of female saints in the Santa Cruz de Mayo, a traditional procession of song and prayer in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Cardinal Rosales told Manila’s Radio Veritas that the transformation of the religious procession into homosexual-pride parades was “an insult to the Blessed Mother.”
“We should keep sacred what is sacred,” insisted the Cardinal.
The Cardinal noted that he had already disciplined a parish for allowing cross-dressers before he issued his public threat to ban Mass at other disobedient parishes.
“I told them that’s not right because that’s a procession. You are destroying the purity of the devotion,” said Rosales of leaders of a Manila parish permitting homosexual cross-dressers in the processions.
Danton Remoto, head of the pro-homosexual group “Ladlad,” insisted that the cross-dressers meant no disrespect.
“In the eyes of God, everyone is equal. Some of these gay men have saved a lot of money for their gowns (to be worn in the procession) and they were doing it because they believed in the Virgin Mary. They need understanding, not condemnation,” Remoto told Reuters.
Rosales dismissed charges of discrimination against individuals with homosexual inclinations.
“I am not angry at gay men. But, I am against what they’re actually doing.”
To contact the Bishop:
Arzobispado de Manila
121 Arzobispo St., Intramuros, Manila
P.O. Box 132 1099 Manila
Tel: 527-7631 to 36
Fax: 527-3956
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]