Cardinal Sandoval Iniguez. (YouTube)

In an exclusive interview with the Catholic news service LifeSiteNews, the Archbishop Emeritus of Guadalajara, Mexico, Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez, said that "homosexuality is a psychological illness which can be cured," but for those who practice it they will face the same fate as those in Sodom and Gomorrah, who were "destroyed" by God for their sin.

In the interview, LifeSiteNews touched on several controversial subjects, including gender ideology and contraception, and as for homosexuality asked if same-sex couples could receive Holy Communion if they do so in "good conscience."

Sandoval, who was elevated to Cardinal by Pope St. John Paul II in 1994, said "no," that it is an "abuse" for practicing homosexuals to receive Communion. "They can't be in good conscience," he said. "Chastity is a universal precept. all of us must maintain chastity."

Artist's depiction of Lot and his family fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah. (YouTube)

The Cardinal explained that whether one is heterosexual or homosexual, one must maintain chastity dependent upon one's state in life.

"For those who are married, there is conjugal chastity," he said. "Which is their fidelity to one another, between the husband and the wife, conjugal fidelity, conjugal chastity."

"In the case of singles, it is that they abstain, and those who are homosexuals, those who have attractions to the same sex, also abstaining," said the Cardinal. "So just as those who have normal tendencies, and aren't married, have to abstain, so those who have abnormal tendencies must also abstain."

He continued, "Even more so, knowing that homosexuality is a psychological illness which can be cured. Let them seek a cure, because homosexuality is never permitted."

"That's what Genesis is about, Gomorrah," said the Cardinal. "What happened with Sodom and Gomorrah? What happened? He destroyed them."

Gay rainbow flag. (YouTube)

"They gave vent to their desires and were destroyed in that way," he said. "And St. Paul says clearly, in one of his letters — where he gives a list of those who will not possess the kingdom of God — he says that homosexuals will not enter into the kingdom of God."

"This means those homosexuals who practice it, not those who control themselves and maintain a correct life, and there are many people who have the misfortune of being homosexual but who live chastely," said the Cardinal. "Those, yes, are going to enter into the kingdom of God."

"But those who practice it will not enter the kingdom of God," he said. "St. Paul says that. And homosexuality is condemned, totally condemned, in the Old Testament, in Genesis, and by St. Paul in the New Testament."

The Catholic Church operates a very successful program for homosexuals who want to live chaste lives called Courage. See here. Orthodox Protestant churches also run programs to help homosexuals. These include Joel 2:25 International, Genesis Counseling, NARTH, and OnebyOne.