POPE Benedict XVI has claimed that saving the world from homosexual behaviour is as important as protecting the rainforests.

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church believes humanity needs to listen to the 'language of creation' to understand the intended roles of man and woman.

He told senior Vatican staff homosexual and transgender relations are a 'destruction of God's work'. Gay and lesbian Christians have denounced the comments as totally 'irresponsible and unacceptable'. The Church opposes gay marriage and teaches that while homosexuality is not sinful, homosexual acts are.

'Destruction'

Pope Benedict, 81, said: "If tropical forests deserve our protection, humankind... deserves it no less." He called for 'an ecology of the human being' and said when the Church defends God's creation, 'it does not only defend the earth, water and the air.. but also protects man from his own destruction'. His words, later released to the media, emphasised a total rejection of gender theory. It explores sexual orientation, the roles assigned by society to individuals according to their gender, and how people perceive their biological identity. But the Pontiff warned gender theory blurs the distinction between male and female could lead to the 'self-destruction' of the human race.

'Bashing'

But Rev Sharon Ferguson, chief executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, said: "It is more the case that we need to be saved from his comments. It is comments like that that justify homophobic bullying that goes on in schools and it is comments like that that justify gay bashing. There are still so many instances of people being killed around the world, including in western society, purely and simply because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity.

"When you have religious leaders like that making that sort of statement then followers feel they are justified in behaving in an aggressive and violent way because they feel that they are doing God's work in ridding the world of these people."