A priest representing Pope Francis’ point man on sexual abuse in the Church, Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna, spoke approvingly of homosexuality as created by God and “part of his plan” to a talk show audience. Appearing on March 8th, on the show, called Xarabank, Father Kevin Schembri, who teaches Canon Law at the University of Malta, also told the show’s host, Peppi Azzopardi, that God created people with “different sexual orientations,” and that being homosexual “cannot be something bad, because he created it.”

According to an English translation of his interview transcript provided to the Register, Father Schembri, who is the archdiocesan defender of the bond, went on to say that if a person recognizes he is “a gay person as created by God, he does not need to change,” and he would actually be “harming himself” if he did not accept himself “as a gay person.”

He also said a sincere “relationship of love” between homo-sexuals is as “good” as a relationship of “love between heterosexual couples.” “Where love is, there is God,” said Father Schembri, who is known for his ministry to same-sex attracted Catholics, adding that homosexual love is simply a “variant” created by God. In the TV interview, he also rejected reparative, or conversion, therapy, and said Archbishop Scicluna had also spoken against it. The archbishop spoke publicly against reparative therapy in 2015 and 2016.

Father Schembri’s comments caused considerable anger and frustration among Maltese faithful and clergy who contacted the Register to express their concern. Sources told the Register that the archdiocese has been “inundated” with complaints.