The Pope obviously values power more than love and compassion.


Pope Admonishes Italian Politicians On Gay Unions
by Malcolm Thornberry, 365Gay.com European Bureau Chief
Posted: January 12, 2006 - 1:00 pm ET

(Vatican City) Pope Benedict warned Italian politicians on Thursday that the Catholic Church will use all of its power to thwart any move to legalize same-sex union.

Italy goes to the polls in April in an election the pits the center-left coalition against the ruling conservatives.

Romano Prodi's centrist coalition, simply called The Union, has said it would legalize civil partnerships, similar to those in Britain and other parts of the European Union, if elected. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's right of center party coalition is against any recognition of same-sex couples.

Speaking to politicians from Rome area the Pope said that marriage was not a "casual, sociological entity" but "a question of the correct relationship between a man and a woman."
The pontiff warned the politicians for a wide variety of parties that marriage is "not a peculiarity of Catholic moral teaching but part of an elementary truth regarding our common humanity."

The speech was immediately denounced by Italian gays as an intrusion in Italian politics.
"The Pope is interfering heavily in Italian politics and behaving like the leader of a political party," Franco Grillini, a leftist parliamentarian who is gay told reporters at the Vatican.
Prodi has been a supporter of moderate rights for same-sex couples since July when he met with gay activists, but he opposes gay marriage. (story)

The Netherlands, Belgium and Spain are the only EU countries to allow same-sex marriage. Britain, the Nordic countries, Germany and France all have varying forms of civil unions or domestic partner laws.

©365Gay.com 2006