Priest says he ‘understands paedophilia’ but thinks ‘homosexuality is unacceptable’

Priest says he ‘understands paedophilia’ but thinks ‘homosexuality is unacceptable’

An Italian priest has justified paedophilia in the clergy on live TV while blaming children “who seek affection” for tempting adults.

Don Gino Flaim, 75, of the diocese of Trento in Northern Italy, has been removed from his position and banned from preaching since his comments were aired on the private La 7 network on Tuesday.

In the TV interview, Flaim had said: “Unfortunately there are children who seek affection because they don’t get it at home and then if they find some priest he can even give in to the temptation. I understand this.”

Asked if he believed the children were in any way responsible, he said: “In many cases, yes.” He further disgusted viewers by adding, “Paedophilia is a sin, and like all sins has to accepted, also.”

While Flaim said that he could “understand” paedophilia, he was not so forgiving of the LGBT community, saying he could not understand the “sickness” of homosexuality.

The priest’s statements caused outrage across Italy – with many calling for his expulsion from the church. The diocese distanced itself from the comments, stating that Flaim’s opinions ran counter “to the sentiments of the entire church community” on child sex abuse.

Flaim’s opinions also run directly counter to Pope Francis’, who last month revealed he had met with survivors of clergy sex abuse while in the US and publicly vowed to hold those involved in both the abuse and its cover up to account.

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16 Comments

  1. Mandy
    October 09, 06:53 Reply

    Good God, man! At least have the decency to properly come of the closet as a paedophile.

  2. pete
    October 09, 07:06 Reply

    Fr Flaim,i have one question for you. The love you claim the children lack at home, is it of a sexual nature?

    • Pink Panther
      October 09, 08:39 Reply

      Good question, Pete. If only the ‘good’ father could answer it. Nonsense and ingredients!

  3. Teflondon
    October 09, 07:23 Reply

    So according to Gino’s logic “it’s okay for a male child to be sexually assaulted by a priest (which by the way is a sick twisted form of homosexuality) but it’s not Okay for two consenting same-sex adults (the normal kind of homosexuality) to engage in what they feel for eachother” Wow! how brillaint of you Flaim Gino. **Smiling and clapping for you while pushing off a cliff**

  4. Adey
    October 09, 07:44 Reply

    Awwwww, he was outed by the media. No fair. They should have let him come out of his paedophilic gay closet on his own terms. Ah well, Narnia is free from Jadis, the White Witch. Finally, I get to celebrate Christmas, Spring and Summer. Yay!!!

    • JustJames
      October 09, 20:14 Reply

      If you’ve read all the books of narnia I like you a lot ☺

  5. Delle
    October 09, 08:47 Reply

    Ewww! What a turn-off! He doesn’t deserve his chasuble…
    ‘And like all sins, has to be accepted’…I wonder where homosexuality is placed then if it still cannot be accepted…douchebag!

  6. Danish
    October 09, 09:10 Reply

    Idiots like this should be removed from the priesthood not just banned from preaching.

  7. Sinnex
    October 09, 09:51 Reply

    “…with many calling for his expulsion from the church. The diocese distanced itself from the comments, stating that Flaim’s opinions ran counter “to the sentiments of the entire church community” on child sex abuse.”

    The opinion of one doesn’t count. It is not everything that is news worthy.

    Just because someone is in a position of authority doesn’t mean that he knows it all.

    Next!!!

  8. Max
    October 09, 10:57 Reply

    Shame! Shame!! Shame!!! Shame!!!! *game of thrones style*

  9. Lothario
    October 09, 12:58 Reply

    How can a right thinking adult even spit this kind of rubbish? Mcheeeeeww

  10. Khaleesi
    October 09, 14:51 Reply

    … again, the idiotic mindless hypocrisy of ministers in the temple of Religidiocy!! you’d be surprised @ how many of his co – religitards fervently believe this putrid line of filth. Abeg this animal deserves to be muzzled like a rabid dog and fed nothing but a diet of communion wafers mashed in holy water and then when; he exits this world and ceases to be a waste of oxygen and space, his body should be hauled off and burned … smh … i just cant deal!!

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