Bishop takes cudgels for LGBT after Pacquiao’s remark on gays: They are human

A Catholic archbishop on Wednesday gave his two-cents worth on the remark of senatorial aspirant and Sarangani representative Manny Pacquiao against same sex marriage which drew flak from netizens and celebrities.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz said that he was shocked when he first heard Pacquiao’s statement saying that gays are “worse than animals.” He said that the boxer’s view contradicted with the view of the Christian church to love other people.

“Noong pong narinig ko ito, talagang ako mismo naiskandalo pagkat sinasabi niya na Christian daw siya [pero] paano niya malulunok yung kanyang sinabi? Akala ko ba ay isa sa mga utos ng Kristiyanismo ay mahalin mo ang kapwa mo?” Cruz said in a Radyo Inquirer interview.

(When I first heard his statement, I was shocked because he said that he was a Christian but how can he stand firm on his view? Isn’t it one of the teachings of Christianity is to love other people?)

He said that the members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community should not be treated as lesser humans.

“Hindi ko sinasabing tama ang mixed marriage, ang sabi ko lang, huwag mo namang maliitin yung mga miyembro ng LGBT. Tao rin po sila. Bagama’t di ko sinasang-ayunan ang same sex marriage pagkat hindi yun sang-ayon sa kalikasan, pero huwag naman sanang ganunin ang pananaw sa mga LGBT members,” Cruz said.

“Mga tao rin po sila at marami kilala sa kanila na marurunong at matitino. Wala pong ganyanan sana,” he added.

However, he clarified that the Church is standing firm on its stance against same-sex marriage which is against “reason and nature.”

He also said that he is glad that Pacquiao has apologized already.

In an interview with TV-5, Pacquiao said that he is against same sex marriage by using “common sense.”

“Common sense lang. Makakakita ka ba ng any animals na lalaki sa lalaki, babae sa babae? Mas mabuti pa yung hayop. Marunong kumilala kung lalaki, lalaki, o babae, babae,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao first defended his statement by saying that he was just following the teachings from the Bible but later backtracked and apologized to anyone who has been offended by his statement.

Prominent LGBT personalities and supporters such as Vice Ganda, Lea Salonga, Aiza Seguerra and Boy Abunda twitted the lawmaker for his view.