Vitus Huonder, a Catholic bishop in Switzerland, delivered a 50-minute sermon on the evils of homosexuality on July 31st. Using a bible verse to imply that Catholics should kill gays, he’s being charged with “inciting people to crimes,” which under Swiss law is considered a federal offense.

The New Civil Rights Movement reports that the Catholic Bishop of Chur’s speech included this oft-cited passage from Leviticus:

“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”

Bishop Huonder said the passage should “suffice to clarify unambiguously the church’s position on homosexuality.”

Pink Cross, the Swiss Gay Federation, filed a criminal complaint against Huonder, claiming his speech could be interpreted to suggest Catholics should actively harm homosexuals.

According to SSPX, he’s previously denounced “gender theory,” and has written extensively about his disapproval of gay marriage and the “(homo)-sexualization of children.”

In a statement, Huonder claims he’s been “misunderstood” and that he never wanted to sound “contemptuous” towards gay people.

“That wasn’t my intention,” he insists.

If convicted, he faces three years in prison.