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The Pope has told members of his Vatican staff that saving humanity from homosexual or transexual behaviour is just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.
Campaigner Vladimir Luxuria opposes the Vatican's position
More dangerous: Deforestation or the blurring of gender?
Blurring the differences between male and female, he reasons, could lead to the destruction of the human race.
If the rainforest deserves protection, then humankind deserves it no less, he says.
Listen Listen to the Pope (1 min)
Vladimir Luxuria is a transgender former Italian MP. Is the Pope right?
Listen Listen to Vladimir Luxuria (3 mins 24 secs)
Lynette Burrows is a conservative Catholic writer and Celia Gardner is the convenor of the Catholic caucus within the UK Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement.
She is a lesbian herself and is in a civil partnership.
Beginning with Lynette Burrows: what is the basis, theological or traditional, on which Pope Benedict bases these comments?
Listen Listen to their discussion (5 mins 10 secs)
First broadcast 23 December 2008
