An 87 year old man using a slur, I feel like you get a slight pass sometimes for being old and not knowing a formerly-commonly-used word has become derogatory.
But he used it, got called out, issued an apology, and then used it again. Yikes.
I keep seeing posts with this title, and it makes it seem like he just can't stop using it, and each time it makes the news. He just keeps using it again and again and again..
The news articles just keep saying it was a slur used in Italian, but never mention what it was. (almost like trying to report it, but also burying it at the same time to save grace)
After a bit of searching, the word is the loose Italian translation of the "F" slur used in English. I honestly can say I've never heard that word (at least in English) used by anyone but true bigots (and immature idiot kids online), even older people.
I did however have an English teacher in high school (who was openly gay) stop the class once, when someone ask about the subject of slurs. (namely racial ones) His relatively succinct response was that any slur is owned by the people in subject, and only they can choose use it to weaken its hate or let it die from disuse. (I sort of miss him, as he liked to speak to us with a frankness like adults rather than hide things like people do to kids, 12 and under)
I say that if he can't stop using it, even "accidentally", he may not really be as accepting as people think, and it is all just a bit of an act to try to keep that religon alive with gen y+.
Growing up, I only knew that F meant dork/idiot, it wasn't until many years later that I discovered it had a sexual connotation. I'm curious what you make of Henchclief's use of it here at 0:16. Is this as bad as if he had called him an N?
People keep focusing on the slur and his apology. The context of what he is saying wouldn't be any better if he used an acceptable word for gay people. Either way, both times, he was saying that there are too many gay priests and that he wishes that there were less of them. This is bigoted regardless of the specific words used.
Based on the fact that I can't find a single source that isn't bleeping out the word, I'm assuming the slur he is using is fantastic ? No? Nah, more likely fabulous.