Boxer Manny Pacquiao has apologized for comparing gays to animals, but the Philippine Catholic church is defending his comments, saying he was only quoting the Bible.
Father Jerome Secillano said that Pacquiao should respect homosexuals and not judge and condemn them, after the eight-division world champion last week described them as "worse than animals."
Pacquiao, 37, who converted from Catholicism to evangelical Protestantism late in his boxing career, was pilloried by local gay rights groups and celebrities and has lost lucrative commercial endorsements as a result.
But Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic bishops' public affairs office, said: "This is really in the Bible. There is this quote he (Pacquiao) uses from the Bible and we cannot change that."
Going to Church with my family. May God Bless you all. pic.twitter.com/MMwwvOMqbE
— Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) February 21, 2016
He said it was "unfair" to condemn Pacquiao for echoing what he reads in the Bible. when he was asked about same-sex marriage.
Still, Secillano added that the boxing hero should not have used such offensive language.
"The church... says that if this is your lifestyle, if this is your orientation, then we respect that, we cannot condemn them," the priest said.
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He reiterated that the Catholic church, which counts 80 percent of Filipinos as followers, opposes the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Church influence has also kept divorce and abortion from being legalized in the Philippines.
However, homosexuality is not criminalized and several LGBT figures have become celebrities.
Yes a lot of Filipinos are strictly Catholic and therefore against gay marriage, but they're not homophobic like @mannypacquiao
— s✨ (@srhkhn) February 18, 2016
Pacquiao, who intends to retire after his April fight against American Timothy Bradley to focus on his career in politics, issued an apology on social media on Tuesday.
Nike, Pacquiao's major global sponsor, cancelled its endorsement deal with the boxer, describing his comments as "abhorrent."
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Pacquiao has used his fame and fortune to launch a political career.
Already a two-term congressman, he is campaigning to win a Senate seat in May elections. Surveys published before the controversy indicated he will win.
Pacquiao has said his ultimate ambition is to be president of the Philippines.
I'm sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I've hurt. God Bless! pic.twitter.com/bqjRcWqp8R
— Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) February 16, 2016