Pope affirms church stand on homosexuality

VATICAN CITY, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI affirms in a newly released book homosexuality is something that can never be "morally just."

In "Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times," the pontiff tells German writer Peter Seewald homosexuality is a great trial with which a person may be faced, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

However, the pope said being gay "remains something that is against the nature that God originally willed."

In the 18-chapter book released Tuesday, Seewald asked the pope 90 questions, a number dealing with homosexuality.

Benedict stressed priests cannot be gay, adding that great care must be taken to ensure priestly celibacy "is not identified with a tendency towards homosexuality.

In an excerpt of the book reported earlier the pope said condoms might be justified in certain rare cases to prevent the spread of disease.