Amsterdam - Dutch authorities have rejected a discrimination case brought by a homosexual association against Pope John Paul II, judicial sources said Tuesday.
The Amsterdam public prosecutor's office, which ruled on the case, felt that the pontiff benefited from a "universal legal immunity" as head of the Catholic church and the Vatican state, a spokesperson said.
The Foundation of Friends of the Netherlands' homosexual magazine, Gay Krant, lodged a complaint last week against the pope for discrimination, quoting a statement he made on July 9.
The pontiff said homosexuality was "against the laws of nature" and described the World Gay Pride parade held in Rome as an "affront to Christian values".
Under Dutch law, courts may not judge acts of discrimination or incitement to discriminate if it occurs outside the country by people who are not Dutch citizens. - Sapa-AFP