CEBU CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® )  – A ranking Catholic bishop in the Philippines issued a challenge to gay men and women to aspire to be holy and to become saints.

The challenge was posed by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas during a convention on family and life by Catholic leaders in the country. Villegas is the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

“That first thing we should call to mind is Jesus died for all. At the cross, there were only seven words attributed to Jesus, and at the cross, He did not ask ‘Are you a homosexual? If you are, I’m not dying for you. No. There was no such thing,” he said.

Asked by a reporter if philandering and corrupt public officials — which abound in the Philippines — could also become saints, Villegas answered:

“Well, that’s a different case altogether. These politicians who cheat on their wives and steal money from the people are committing a grave sin not only to themselves but to many people who suffer as a result of the misdeeds. And that would disqualify them from sainthood.”

Villegas urged corrupt politicians to repent, reform their lives and to return every single centavo that they stole from taxpayers. “That, he said, is the only way for them to become holy and qualify for sainthood.”