Cardinal Thomas Winning is facing further criticism following a fresh attack on gays in which he implies a comparison between the homosexual lobby and Nazis.

In a speech to a gathering in Malta, he said Europe's pro-gay activists were "pushing for greater power".

Cardinal Winning added: "In place of the bombs of 50 years ago you find yourselves bombarded with images and ideas which are utterly alien."

Labour MP George Galloway condemned the clergyman's comments saying: "I have long admired Cardinal Winning - I have worked with him on many projects. But I was disgusted by the use of the word which could have easily dripped from the lips of any raving bigot.

"He should have known the atmosphere it would have created."

The entrenched views of the leader of Scotland's Catholics came to light following proposals by the Scottish Executive to repeal Section 28 - the law which bans the promotion of homosexuality in the classroom.

While a number of newspaper polls have backed Cardinal Winning's stance and that of fellow Section 28 backer, millionaire businessman Brian Souter, politicians and Catholic clergy say the debate has gone down the wrong route.

Father Gordon Brown, 61, who heads a small parish in Edinburgh, believes his boss is "wrong".

He went on to say that a network of gay priests had been set up to offer each other support.

"I've been a priest for 30 years, but I've been gay for longer.

'Winning is wrong'

"I'd have to tell Cardinal Winning he is wrong. When Cardinal Winning referred to it as a perversion, I thought: 'Enough is enough'.

"There are some who are fairly militant by nature, and want to publicise the stance, but until today, I've not been so brave.

"I'm still scared to have taken this step. But somewhere inside me I feel an inner peace."

The priest, who worked in a series of parishes in Edinburgh and the east of Scotland, stressed he was celibate.

"I don't have a partner and I lead a celibate life, but there's a major part of me that has had to be shelved."

Catholic Church spokesman, Ronnie Convery, said on Sunday that Cardinal Winning's "Nazis" reference had been taken out of context.

He said: "The Cardinal has been wilfully misrepresented. This is just an attempt to win an easy headline. He did not use the word Nazis at any point in his speech."

Meanwhile, two Sunday newspaper opinion polls showed support for retention of the clause.

An ICM poll for Scotland on Sunday, revealed 64% of people questioned said they opposed repealing the law.

But a poll carried out by Mori Scotland for the Sunday Herald showed a more complex picture.

While 60% of those polled backed keeping the clause, 59% said children should be taught that homosexuality is neither right nor wrong and should be tolerated as a lifestyle.

And a majority of Scots did not back the view of Cardinal Winning that homosexual relationships were a "perversion".

A total of 60% disagreed, while among the Catholics polled the figure was 62%.