Santacruzan participants

Manila, Philippines, May 6, 2008 / 04:03 am (CNA).- Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales has forbidden cross-dressing homosexuals from dressing up as female saints in religious processions, calling the actions an “insult to the Blessed Mother.”

Every May, Catholics throughout the Philippines hold a “Santacruzan” flower festival in honor of the Virgin Mary.

Speaking to the church-run Radio Veritas on Monday, Cardinal Rosales said the cross-dressing was “horrendous” and “defeats the real purpose” of the procession.  He said that the Catholic faithful should keep religious festivals sacred and solemn at all times.

"Gays should not be allowed to participate in Santacruzan since it defeats the true meaning of the celebration," he said.  “I am not angry at gay men. But, I am against what they're actually doing.

“We should keep sacred what is sacred.”

In the past, the cardinal has refused to give his blessing to any parish that allows homosexuals to join the Santacruzan procession, telling one parish they were destroying “the purity of the devotion."

“That's horrendous. That's an insult to the Blessed Mother,” he said.

The Church will ban any parish that disregards the warning from holding Masses.

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