Pope says gays could end human race

Pope Benedict XVI, known as the 'Rottweiler' for his hardline views, shows no sign of softening his attitude towards male homosexuality. In his Christmas address, he chose to build on a claim that he made two years ago – that gay men destroyed themselves - with the assertion that homosexual and transsexual behaviour could lead to the destruction of the human race.

His Holiness made his comments at the Vatican in an address to the Curia, the Vatican's central administration, saying that behaviour beyond traditional heterosexual relations was "a destruction of God's work" and that the Roman Catholic Church had a duty to "protect man from the destruction of himself".

He said it was not "outmoded metaphysics" to urge respect for the "nature of the human being as man and woman", adding: "The tropical forests do deserve our protection. But man, as a creature, does not deserve any less."

The Pope said that humanity needed to "listen to the language of creation" to understand the intended roles of man and woman. He also defended the Church's right to "speak of human nature as man and woman, and ask that this order of creation be respected".

Meanwhile, the ongoing row over homosexuality in the Church of England has led to the sacking of a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury's staff. In a document sent to 43 diocesan bishops as well as Downing Street, the as yet unnamed official referred to the Bishop of Rochester, the Right Reverend Michael Nazir, as an "arsehole". It is thought the remark was made because of the bishop's opposition to gay rights for Anglican clergyman. ·