Mexico’s Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez is facing a raft of criminal complaints launched by gay advocates following his outspoken defence of traditional marriage.
In the wake of Mexico’s Supreme Court ruling that all states in the nation should legislate for same-sex marriage, Cardinal Sandoval addressed the move in a televised speech on Catholic television, denouncing the decision while accusing the Supreme Court of attempting to “destroy marriage”.
“Marriage, in accordance with nature, is a man and a woman, and it is also so in accordance with Christian revelation,” Sandoval stressed. “Marriage is a man and a woman. Anything more is something deviant.
“Anything outside of this divine institution [of marriage] is an attack against it and is an aberration, and cannot be acceptable to a Catholic,” he added.
Immediately after the broadcast, some 12 groups lobbying on behalf of homosexuals launched criminal complaints against the prelate, accusing him of variously of homophobia, transphobia, discrimination and inciting violence through his words. Other groups have indicated that they too will make formal criminal complaints.
An undaunted Cardinal Sandoval has criticised his fellow prelates for their silence in the face of Mexico’s redefinition of marriage and urged them to encourage a campaign of defence of traditional marriage, “organising, for example, the gathering of signatures, whether for the Supreme Court or for the national congress, for local congresses, many signatures that say clearly that they do not want such legislation. It’s very important for the good of the country that marriage be healthy, that marriage be what it should be and not be perverted.”