Archbishop emeritus Oscar Cruz, former President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), has said that he supports Pope Francis’ statement that gay people should not be judged. However, he was quick to add that they should behave and not lower their dignities.
Cruz is known for his hardline stance against gay marriage as well as LGBT rights. In a recent report carried by the Huffington Post, he explained that he backs the Pope’s statement on gays because “everyone deserves respect.”
“We also have to respect them because they are also children of God. They are humans too. Don’t tell me that homosexuals commit graver sins than ordinary men and women. No. That is not true,” Cruz commented. However, he said they must behave accordingly and avoid actions that make them the butt of jokes.
“When they [gays] dress up as females, wear high heels and other such acts, they are lowering their dignities as they make themselves laughing stocks. I think that is not fair to them because they are being laughed at,” the former Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan was quoted as saying.
