Philippine church defends Pacquiao on gay marriage stance

The Philippine Catholic church has shielded boxing saint Manny Pacquiao for his restriction to gay marriage, saying he was just citing the Bible. 

In any case, Father Jerome Secillano likewise said over radio station DZMM that Pacquiao ought to regard gay people and not pass judgment on and denounce them after the eight-division title holder a week ago portrayed them as more awful than creatures. 

Pacquiao, 37, who changed over from Catholicism to an outreaching Protestant confidence late in his boxing vocation, was pilloried by nearby gay rights gatherings and famous people and has lost lucrative business supports accordingly. 

Secillano, official secretary of the Catholic priests' open issues office, said: "This is truly in the Bible. There is this quote he (Pacquiao) utilizes from the Bible and we can't change that." 

He said it was "uncalled for" to denounce Pacquiao for resounding what he peruses in the Bible when he was gotten some information about same-sex marriage. 

Yet, Secillano additionally said the boxing legend ought not have utilized such hostile dialect. 

"The congregation… says that if this is your way of life, if this is your introduction, then we regard that, we can't censure them," the cleric said. 

He emphasized that the Catholic Church, which tallies 80 for every penny of Filipinos as supporters, still contradicted legitimization of same-sex marriage. 

Church impact has likewise kept separation and fetus removal from being sanctioned in the Philippines. 

However homosexuality is not criminalized and a few LGBT figures have gotten to be famous people. 

Pacquiao, who means to resign after his April battle against American Timothy Bradley to seek after a vocation in legislative issues, issued a conciliatory sentiment on online networking on Tuesday yet later said his statement of regret was qualified. 

Nike, Pacquiao's major worldwide patron, wiped out its support manage him in the previous week, portraying his remarks as "loathsome". 

Pacquiao, a previous road kid with little instruction, has utilized his notoriety and fortune to dispatch a political profession. 

As of now a two-term congressman, he is battling to win a Senate seat in May decisions. Studies distributed before the discussion demonstrated he will win. 

Pacquiao has said his definitive desire is to be president of the Philippines.