Bishop calls for calm from LGBT: Understand Pacquiao’s statement

A retired Catholic bishop has appealed to the lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community to understand the stance of Sarangani Representative and world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao on same-sex marriage.

READ: Pacquiao likens gays to animals, draws flak

While acknowledging those offended by remarks of the senatorial aspirant, Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani said Pacquiao’s statement relegating homosexuals as “worse than animals” was not a direct comparison but more of a “contrast” and “example.”

“Marahil ‘yung kanyang pagkakasabi baka nakasakit sa mga ibang tao pero ‘yung mga nasaktan itanong din naman nila na ‘yung gustong sabihin ni Manny ay totoo ba o hindi. Hindi naman sila itinutulad sa mga hayop, binibigyan lang ng contrast,” Bacani said over church-run Radyo Veritas.

(Perhaps the way he said it might have hurt other people, but those who were offended should also ask themselves if what Manny is saying is true or not. They are not being compared with animals, he was actually providing contrast.)

“Ang sinasabi lang ni Manny Pacquiao dapat na huwag tutularan o dapat ‘yung hindi ginagawa ng mababang uri ay huwag ng sisikaping gawin ng mas matataas na uri. Ang tingin ko kinikilala ni Manny Pacquiao ang mga nag – aadvocate sa same – sex marriage na kilalanin na iba sila sa mga hayop,” he added.

(What Manny Pacquiao is saying is for higher forms of beings not to imitate the acts of those lower than them. I think Manny is challenging those advocating for same sex marriage to differentiate themselves from animals.)

READ: Bishop takes cudgels for LGBT after Pacquiao’s remark on gays

Bacani also maintained that the Catholic Church was in no place to judge or condemn gay people, but only to “correct their wrongdoings.”

“Ang paninindigan ng Simbahan maliwanag din naman na hindi hinuhusgahan, ang sabi ay mali ‘yan. Kapag ginawa mo hindi ka naman hinahatulan na ikaw ay masamang tao pero hindi tama. Iyon ay hindi masamang lihim,” the bishop said.

(The church’s stand is clearly not to judge, but to caution people of their wrongdoings. If you do something wrong, you are not being judged, but just know that what you are doing is not right.)

“Kung hindi tama, hindi tama. Hindi panghuhusga dun sa gumagawa kundi panghuhusga sa hindi tamang ginagawa. Sabi nga, mahalin mo ang makasalanan ngunit ang kasalanan itakwil mo,” he added.

(If it’s not right, then it’s not right. Judging someone is different from judging his act. As we have said, love the sinner, but condemn the sin.)

READ: Pacquiao sorry for gays-animals comparison, stubborn on same-sex unions | Bible-quoting Pacquiao: ‘I’m not condemning anyone, but…’

After drawing flak from netizens and celebrities, Pacquiao apologized for comparing gays to animals but maintained his opposition to same-sex marriage. IDL

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