MANILA, Nov 20 (AFP) - A gay rights political party banned from participating in next year's Philippine elections on so-called moral grounds blasted the decision Friday as discriminatory and vowed to take legal action.

Ang Ladlad chairman Danton Remoto said the party was preparing to file a court motion challenging the Commission on Election's ruling.

"This is a sloppy and biased decision because he is a Eucharistic minister," Remoto told AFP, referring to election commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, who ruled against Ang Ladlad last week.

"The problem of Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer is he is focused on the religious and moral aspect, which is really difficult to prove in a court of law."

Justifying his decision, Ferrer cited verses from the Christian Bible and Islam's holy book, the Koran, as proof that homosexuality was immoral.

"We use the Bible and Koran to guide us in what is morally right and wrong. Maybe they are using another guideline," said Ferrer, who is a lay minister in the church.

Some powerful legislators have backed Ang Ladlad -- which loosely translated means 'to out oneself' -- saying Ferrer improperly used religious grounds to determine political issues.

Nearly 90 percent of the Philippines' 92 million people are Catholic and the Church's influence throughout society is extremely strong.

However, the constitution states there must be a separation between Church and state.

Ang Ladlad had hoped to gain seats in Congress at next year's election through a party-list system, whereby groups representing specific marginalised sectors of society are voted in.