Vatican condemns radio station over gay people quake link
by Hannah Tooley
The Vatican has spoken out against comments made on an Italian radio station linking an earthquake that killed more than 200 people to same-sex unions.
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.
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