Belgian archbishop shuns anti-gay colleague

22 January 2004

BRUSSELS – Belgium’s most senior churchman has distanced himself from anti-gay remarks made by one of the country’s cardinals.

A spokesman for Archbishop Godfried Danneels said that the opinions on gay people expressed by 80-year-old Cardinal Gustaaf Jools do not reflect the views of Belgian bishops and were “a personal comment”.

In a recent interview with the Flemish language ‘P-magazine’ Jools said he believed 95 percent of gay people were “sexual perverts”.

Danneels’ spokesman said the archbishop could not reprimand Jools however as the cardinal “comes under the authority of the Vatican.”

Danneels’ name has been mentioned as a possible successor to Pope John Paul II, who is seriously ill.

The Belgian archbishop recently caused a stir himself when he suggested that condoms could prove effective in the fight against AIDS.

The Pope himself has always refused to sanction such views.

Subject: Belgian news