Cardinal’s controversial remarks trigger inquest

Cardinal Antonio Cañizares takes office as Archbishop of Valencia in 2014. Photo: MAO / El Mundo
Share now:

• Fiscalía opens investigation into alleged homophobic, anti-feminist comments
• Valencia Archbishop said one of most conservative of Spain’s Catholic prelates

The Attorney General’s office for the Spanish Province of Valencia (Fiscalía Provincial de Valencia) has opened a case file into allegedly anti-feminist and homophobic remarks made recently by the Archbishop of Valencia, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, after a civil lawsuit charged the Catholic church leader with making comments that violated legislation prohibiting “hate speech” in Spain on the basis of gender, race, creed or sexual orientation.

The lawsuit, filed by the Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado (CEAR, Spanish Commitee for Aid to Refugees), charged the Archbishop of Valencia with having publicly disparaged what he referred to as “the gay empire” for undermining the family and Christian family values and also for referring to “gender ideology” as “the most insidious ideology in the history of humanity.” Since defended as appropriate expressions of free speech by the Spanish Bishops Conference, the remarks were made in a homily during the celebration of Mass in the chapel of the University of Valencia on the eve of the 17th May International Day Against Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

The Valencian provincial Fiscalía said Tuesday it had opened an investigation into the cardinal’s comments that could last up to six months. Known as one of the most conservative Catholic prelates among the 112-member bishops conference, Cañizares previously raised hackles when he publicly called on the Spanish government to be very selective in accepting refugees from war-torn Syria and Iraq because they were not Christians and could include terrorists seeking to infiltrate and attack Spain.

► Read More in Spanish at El Mundo and El Diario …

► Read More in English at Breitbart …

Share now: