In private remarks to the leadership of a key Latin American church group, Pope Francis lamented that a "gay lobby" was at work at the Vatican.


The Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious -- the regional organization for priests and nuns of religious orders -- confirmed Tuesday that its leaders had written a synthesis of Francis' remarks after their June 6 audience. The group, known by its Spanish acronym CLAR, said it was greatly distressed that the document had been published and apologized to the pope.

In the document, Francis is quoted as saying that while there were many holy people in the Vatican, there was also a current of corruption. "The `gay lobby' is mentioned, and it is true, it is there ... We need to see what we can do ..." the synthesis reads.





The initial reporting has never been precise on what exactly was meant by a "gay lobby," but Repubblica and Panorama went beyond saying there was merely a homosexual subculture at the Vatican. Rather, they raised allegations that high-ranking prelates were being blackmailed because they were gay.

On Wednesday, Italian gay rights groups denounced the reporting of the entire affair as insensitive and homophobic.

"That priests have sex with other men doesn't authorize anyone to speak about a gay lobby, because we're not talking about a group that represents the interests of the homosexual community but rather a group that is an integral part of a power structure -- the Vatican -- which is violently homophobic," said Franco Grillini, president of Gaynet rights group.




In its statement, CLAR said no recording had been made of Francis' remarks but that the members of its leadership team -- a half-dozen men and women -- together wrote a synthesis of the points he had made for their own personal use.
