Journalist releases recording of controversial Kasper interview
Cardinal allegedly said it was difficult to discuss homosexuality with African, Asian clerics.
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| Cardinal Kasper (left) and Cardinal Ravasi talk as they leave a Synod session |
Edward Pentin published the recording along with a full transcript and explanatory statement on his personal website last week.
The interview was conducted on October 16 and was published on the Catholic news website Zenit the following day. It was subsequently removed from Zenit’s website after Cardinal Kasper denied giving the interview to Zenit in a statement to German media.
In the interview, the cardinal said that the issue of homosexuality was difficult to discuss with those from African and Asian countries.
He said: “Africa is totally different from the West. Also Asian and Muslim countries, they’re very different, especially about gays. You can’t speak about this with Africans and people of Muslim countries. It’s not possible. It’s a taboo.”
He also indicated that the views on homosexuality of African bishops were not being listened to.
“I think in the end there must be a general line in the Church, general criteria, but then the questions of Africa we cannot solve,” he said. “But they should not tell us too much what we have to do.”
Cardinal Kasper denied making the comments and said he had not given an interview to anyone from Zenit.
In his statement, Pentin said that he had introduced himself to Cardinal Kasper as a reporter for the National Catholic Register. However, he later decided to publish the interview in Zenit, whom he also writes for. He is also the Vatican correspondent of the Catholic Herald.
Pentin also said that he recorded the interview on a device which was clearly visible to Cardinal Kasper and that the cardinal had not requested that his comments not be published.
Source: The Catholic Herald
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