Cardinal’s ‘homophobic’ statements not a crime

The complaint against a Cardinal who allegedly made homophobic statements has been shelved.

Recently proclaimed Cardinal and Archbishop of Pamplona, Fernando Sebastian, 84, who lives in Malaga, said earlier this year that homosexuality is a “sexual deficiency which can be corrected with treatment.”

The Malaga Public Prosecutor does not consider that these statements, reported by the Spanish Confederation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals (Colegas) constitute a crime.

Colegas considered he was encouraging violence and hate, but the prosecutor’s office does not believe this was the case and has said that although they were “unfortunate”, they were accompanied by words such as “affection” and “welcome”.

The prosecutor’s office goes on to say that the comments were “wrong” and “negative” and that homosexuals are right to be offended by them, but also defends the cardinal’s freedom of speech, especially from his position within the Catholic Church.

Colegas plan to appeal.