Monday, February 12, 2007

Italian Catholics Tell Pope To Butt Out Of Gay Partner Debate

(Rome) In a stinging rebuke of Pope Benedict XVI's condemnation of legislation granting limited rights to same-sex couples a group of well known Italian Catholics Thursday told the Vatican it had no business interfering in politics.

A civil partnership bill is expected to be presented in Italy's lower house within days. It was approved by the cabinet last week.

On Monday the Pope labeled the bill as "subversive" and the Vatican has issued a statement saying Catholic politicians have a duty to defeat the measure.

"Should such an intervention take place ... it would destroy the freedom and dignity of Catholic lawmakers in parliament," former Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro told la Repubblica. Scalfaro is a highly regarded Catholic. He attends mass daily and has said he has discussions with the Virgin Mary.

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