The Vatican on Friday
condemned Catholic radio station Radio Maria for saying the
recent earthquakes in central Italy were "divine punishment" for
Italy passing a gay unions law. "They are offensive statements
for believers and scandalous for non-believers," Assistant
Secretary of State Msgr Angelo Becciu told ANSA. He said the
statements "date back to the pre-Christian period and do not
correspond to Church theology because they are contrary to the
vision of God offered to us by Christ". He voiced the hope that
the earthquake-stricken population "will forgive us" and sent
them the "solidarity of Pope Francis. "Christ, Msgr Becciu said,
"revealed the face of God as love, not of a capricious and
vengeful God. That is a pagan vision, not Christian".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA