Vatican's next doctrinal guardian defends his book 'Heal Me with Your Mouth. The Art of Kissing'

Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez, Pope Francis' pick to serve as the Catholic Church's doctrinal guardian, is defending his book, "Heal Me with Your Mouth. The Art of Kissing." 

Fernandez says conservative sectors within the church are criticizing how Francis designated him to lead the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly known as the Holy Office. The department was founded to defend the church against heresy and more recently has made statements about same-sex marriages. 

"These are ultra-conservative sectors that deeply hate the Argentine pontiff (Francis)," Fernandez told The Associated Press on Sunday. "They take a phrase from the book and say: ‘Look at the level of this theologian. How can a person who uses these expressions be the prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith?"

Fernandez, 60, currently serves as an archbishop in Argentina. He said he wrote the controversial 80-page book in 1995 along with a group of young people when he worked as a parish priest.

A poem in the book written by Fernandez states: "How was God so ruthless to give you that mouth... No one can resist, witch, hide it."

Fernandez has also come under fire for being open to blessing same-sex relationships and his handling of abuse allegations.

Commenting on Fernandez, Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland said on Twitter: "Pray that he returns to the Catholic faith."

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.