Pope Francis on Monday
removed a Spanish bishop who stirred controversy by saying
homosexuality was linked to "an absent paternal figure".
The move follows Francis' removal last week of a Brazilian
bishop over a gay video.
The pope accepted the resignation of Mons. Xavier Novell Gomà,
bishop of Solsona in Catalonia.
The 52-year-old bishop, who also courted controversy with
statements in favour of Catalan independence, was replaced by
mons. Romà Casanova Casanova, bishop of Vic near Barcelona.
Gomà became Spain's youngest bishop when he was appointed in
November 2010, at the age of 41.
In May 2017 he was declared persona non grata by a local town
because of his comments on the alleged causes of homosexuality.
This past May he had to be escorted out of a church because of a
protest by LGBT activists, after refusing to retract his 'absent
father' thesis.
Last Wednesday, on the other hand, the pontiff removed a
Brazilian bishop after a video surfaced in which he is seen
semi-naked with another man.
Msgr Tome' Ferreira da Silva was replaced as bishop of the Sao
Jose' do Rio Preto diocese by Msgr Moacir Silva, archbishop of
Ribeirao Preto.
Msgr Ferreira, 60, has admitted the video is his but has
declined to comment on the content.
Soon after his election in 2013, the pope famously replied "Who
am I to judge?" when asked about gays.
But Catholic doctrine that active homosexuality is a
"disordered" state and a sin has remained unchanged.
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