Original sentence: A poll on the state television website (VRT) even showed that just over 50 % of the people taking part in that poll backed his views.Before his nomination he was only known as a parish priest.Belgian media mistook him for another priest just after he was elevated to Cardinal.Gustaaf Joos was already 80 years old when he was elevated to cardinal and therefore could not take part in any future conclave.His elevation as cardinal is seen by many as gratitude from Pope John Paul II towards his long time friend.Many catholics and non-catholics in Belgium praised the cardinal however for daring to express his views.This interview created a stir in some Belgian media.Through his spokesman Toon Osaer, Godfried Cardinal Danneels distanced himself from Gustaaf Joos and the Belgian Centre for Equal Opportunities and Struggle against Racism even threatened to sue him for violating an anti-discrimination law.Upton the fierce reaction of some media, Gustaaf Joos has always stood by his comments.pl:Gustaaf JoosGustaaf, Cardinal Joos (July 5 1923 - November 2 2004) was a Belgian cleric, who was elevated to the Roman Catholic College of Cardinals on 21 October 2003
Edited sentence: Before his nomination, he was little known in Belgium as well as abroad.Godfried Cardinal Danneels distanced himself from Gustaaf Joos and the Belgian Centre for Equal Opportunities and Struggle against Racism threatened to sue him for violating an anti-discrimination law.Gustaaf, Cardinal Joos (July 5 1923 - November 2 2004) was a controversial Belgian cleric, who was elevated to the Roman Catholic College of Cardinals on 21 October 2003.He was actually so little known in Belgium that media mistook him for another priest just after he was elevated to Cardinal.This interview created embarrassment amongst the Roman Catholic Church and stir in the media, all the more since Gustaaf Joos refused to apologize for his comments.This personal friendship with the pope, rather than merit, was considered to be the reason behind his elevation to cardinal.pl:Gustaaf Joos