Manny Pacquiao has reiterated his
opposition to gay marriage.
The 33-year-old Filipino boxer
apologized to the gay community after he was misquoted as saying that
gay men “must be put to death.”
The trouble began with an interview in
The Examiner which asked him his opinion on gay nuptials.
Pacquiao took issue with President
Barack Obama citing his faith in making his endorsement of gay
marriage. The author quoted the Old Testament book of Leviticus
20:13, saying: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman,
both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to
death; their blood will be on their own heads.”
The reference made it appear as if
Pacquiao was agreeing with the biblical passage and many outlets
quoted him as making the reference himself.
The controversy over the comments
prompted the Grove outdoor shopping center in Los Angeles to ban
Pacquiao from the mall as he was preparing to tape an interview with
the celebrity news show Extra, which regularly films at the
popular mall.
“To the gay community, I apologize.
I'm against same-sex marriage, but I'm not condemning you. My
favorite verse is 'Love one another as you love yourself. Love your
neighbor.' So I love everybody!” he said in his apology.
Ahead of his World Welterweight
Championship bout with Timothy Bradley, Pacquiao discussed the
incident with The Wall Street Journal.
Pacquiao said he was asked for his
opinion and he replied “I'm against the same-sex marriage.”
“And why. He said why. Because it's
against the law of God. And that's it. And I don't know where he
get that ...” he added with a grin.
“A lot of other things came out,”
the interviewer added and Pacquiao nodded his head in agreement.
Pacquiao said that the incident did not
bother him because “I know what I say to him.”
“And I just stated the truth. Of
course, I know God will help me,” he added. (The video is embedded
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