Spanish priest suffers harrassment after preaching against homosexuality

According to Martín, people can become homosexual when they lack parental affection in their childhood, Catholic News Agency reports based on an article of Aciprensa. He asserted that that is the case in many instances.

During a Mass on December 16, the rural parish priest discussed the waiting of the Virgin Mary during her pregnancy. He then stated that the heart's desires are known to God, even if a person does not know their origins. From then on, he addressed the issue of homosexuality, Catholic News Agency reports.

According to the priest people born "with a special sensitivity, more in need of attention, affection, kisses, hugs, games, physical contact with his father" are more likely to adhere to same-sex desires. Martín said that the void caused then expresses itself in homosexuality when people are actually looking for "healthy affection from other men, which they have not received as children." Instead, the priest advised homosexual people to find healthy love from a friend. “The affection, the closeness, the healthy chaste hug of a friend would be of great help.” He added that this would help homosexual people to change their desires.

The statements of the priest caused great upheaval in local media. Organisations called for action against the priest. As a result, a mob followed the priest along, shouting, "away with him!" A video of this was posted on Twitter by Ricardo Chamorro from the conservative political party Vox.

The Roman Catholic Doctrine forbids homosexuality but states that unjust discrimination against gay people should be avoided. The Church doctrine furthermore says that homosexual tendencies are "objectively disordered" and that same-sex attraction often is a trial for people.