A right-wing Catholic station, Radio Maria, declared in a broadcast that the recent earthquakes were "God's punishment" for same-sex civil unions.
The Vatican called the remarks "offensive and scandalous," after a Dominican friar said the recent earthquakes in Italy were caused by human sins.
Radio Maria reported that he said: "These disasters are a consequence of original sin, then you can really be considered as a punishment for original sin - even if the word did not like it, but I say the same, it is a biblical word, there is no problem.
"Of course you have to understand well what is meant by punishment."
He said these sins included the approval of same-sex civil unions in May 2015.
The Vatican said the remarks were in no way related to Catholic theology.
Radio Maria has published a statement on its website, saying the comments do not reflect the views of the station.
