Cardinal says gays should be banned from office

Dec 11, 2007
In cooperation with BNS

RIGA -- Cardinal Janis Pujats delivered an outspoken attack on homosexuality on Dec. 10, in what amounted to a call for gays to be banned from holding political office in Latvia.

The cardinal issued a statement Monday night calling on the candidates for the post of prime minister to state if they are "ready to defend the Latvian nation against the invasion of homosexuality in public life."

"Are they ready to block the way in parliament to any bill that propagates immorality?" he asked.

In his statement, Pujats notes that an individual who is not a "stern advocate of the people's moral values, must neither run nor be nominated for prime minister," effectively calling for homosexuals to be banned from holding high office because of their sexual persuasion.

Barring individuals from office or employment on the grounds of their sexuality is illegal under EU employment law.  

"As a cardinal, I say this in the name of Latvia's half-million Catholic believers. They are citizens of their country and have rights to express their opinions on all issues of national importance. People are entitled to receive a public answer," the leader ofLatvia's Catholics said in his statement.

During public debates on Monday, all three candidates for Latvia's new prime minister -- Valdis Dombrovskis from the New Era party, Edgars Zalans from the People's Party and Ivars Godmanis from Latvia's First Party and Latvia's Way (LPP/LC) voiced tolerant attitudes to people with different sexual orientations.