Manny Pacquiao jabs Barack Obama on same-sex marriage stance

President Barack Obama and Manny Pacquiao.

/ CBS

(CBS News) Manny Pacquiao is many things to many people. To most, he's one of the best pound-for-pound boxers to ever grace the ring. To legions in his native Philippines, he's not only a sports hero but a Congressman. To Forbes magazine, he's the fourth most influential athlete in the world. And to others still, he is a chart-topping ballad singer.

But Pacquiao is first and foremost a devoted Catholic who's as quick to quote the Bible as he is to knock out an opponent. So it's perhaps no surprise that he has come out swinging against President Barack Obama's recent support of same-sex marriage.

In a recent interview with the National Conservative Examiner, the WBO welterweight champion invoked the Bible when criticizing the president's stance.

"God's words first ... obey God's law first before considering the laws of man," Pacquiao said in response to how he felt about Obama's public support of same-sex marriage. "God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they so are in love with each other. It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of Old."

Pacquiao's stance is in line with his conservative views in the Filipino legislature. Last year, he was vehemently opposed to a proposed law that would make contraceptives accessible to most Filipinos and sex education mandatory.

Pacquiao's next fight is slated for June 9 against Timothy Bradley. A long-sought bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been shelved numerous times, primarily over disagreements over money.

[coop44]

With one insidious statement, Obama threw another keg of dynamite at God, the Church and the institution of marriage, that God Himself created and implemented, which according to His Word will always constitute as being "one man married to one woman." Leviticus 20:13 says - "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be on them." That scripture should still be in your Bibles today. Also read Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:27. http//www.bmawufbp.blogspot.com

[coop44]

With one insidious statement, Obama threw another keg of dynamite at God, the Church and the institution of marriage, that God Himself created and implemented, which according to His Word will always constitute as being "one man married to one woman." Leviticus 20:13 says - "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be on them." That scripture should still be in your Bibles today. Also read Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:27. http//www.bmawufbp.blogspot.com

[michael2040]

I believe the we have seperation of Church and state in the country....Right?... State governments have 0 rights in the matter... They had no right when they got involded years ago and they do not now. The idea of marriage is based in RELIGION not Politics. I am sure the the majority of all religions past and present difine it as man and women. Personaly I don't care but the fact is ...Seperation of Church and State.

[TJphoto]

Obey God's law first? OK, which God, there are so many of them. Organized religion only screws people up. Once any one group tries to deny the same rights they enjoy to any other group, then all rights are in danger. It compounds itself when it's done in the name of......God

[Kaiteuk]

Since when has a pugilist, who has taken so many blows to his head, become qualified to be a moral compass on any issue relating to civil and human rights. Maybe he should be seeking medical attention instead of starting a fight which he cannot finish.

[JustSayIt]

The biggest irony here is that very few of these anti gay posters would consider themselves racists or bigots. What do you think you are spewing on here? Don't get me wrong, it's your right to do so. However, man up and say what you are. Go join some hate group.

[JustSayIt]

Pacquiao quotes the bible and how Obama should follow God's law first. Hm. Why is that Mayweather fight not happening Pacquiao? Wouldn't have anything to do with Pride and/or Greed would it?

[magnumdr]

Besides being immoral, same sex partners do not have the right anatomy for real sex, either they use toys or have anal sex which is wrong and can cause death. Do we really want to see this or are scared to admit our real feelings about it. ome people say as long as it don't affect me why not. What a lame excuse to allow it.

[JustSayIt]

I am not scared to admit my feelings about it and I don't get it either. But who am I to demand that other people stop what they do even because I don't get it? So are you the type of person to persecute someone for different acts of sex simply because you don't feel it's for you? Ask yourself why and then come up with an answer for whose lame.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Why are you concerned about their sexual love life? Who cares what they do in their bedrooms? Gosh! Are you saying that a gay couple forced you to watch their love making?

[KPeters_from_UK]

I haven't read one post from a Religious Right supporter who has yet explained to me how it is ok for them to force their religious views on other Americans. I have yet to hear from the Religious Right why it is ok for them to trample on the Constitution while defending their view that God's Law is above the Law of Man.

Not one has defended themselves...not one.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Freedom of speech is fine. Not a problem if Manny wants say his bit. The problem is forcing one's rligious view on others.

Again, try to defend the premise of trampling over my beliefs by forcing your version of the Bible. Why do the Religious Right think it is right to enact laws based on the Bible? Why is it okay for you to oppress me by using your version of the Bible? Is it ok for you to dismiss the principle of Freedom of Religion?

[coop44]

@KPETTERS_from_UK,

My question to you is this:If you were to take every gay man and place them on their own island somewhere off the grid and did the exact same thing for every gay woman, would both island populations perish? Would either island population have the capability to recreate and replenish themselves? Or would both island simply perish, because neither island nor it's gay inhabitants are in-line with the natural order required to keep the human race thriving? That dynamic alone defends God's stand on same sex marriages, as well as the Religious Rights supporters. Ignorance is bliss!

[waynenipper]

Pacqaio ... blow it out your brown dot ... Man made God, not the other way around stupid.