Philippine bishop says gays in religious festivals "horrendous"

Manila Archbishop Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales reminded Catholic devotees to keep religious festivals sacred and solemn, such as annual processions held every May in honour of the Virgin Mary.

"We should keep sacred what is sacred," he said.

"Any parish or chapel that will hold a procession in honour of the Virgin Mary that will use gays in their procession will not be allowed to have a mass," he added, citing a circular he has issued.

While stressing that he was not discriminating against homosexuals, Rosales noted that allowing gays to play the role of Saint Helena and other female roles in the annual processions make the religious occasion a "laughing matter."

"That's horrendous," he added. "That's an insult to the Blessed Mother."

   Rosales recalled one occasion where he called the attention of one parish after it allowed gays to participate in a religious procession.

 "I told them that's not right because that's procession," he said. "You are destroying the purity of the devotion."

   The Philippines is Asia's largest Catholic country, with more than 80 per cent of the estimated 88 million population adhering to the religion. Religious festivals and processions are popular in the country, especially during the summer.//dpa