Normalizing Homosexuality Simply Too Much for the Vatican

You already know the Vatican doesn't see gays in favorable light, refusing to join the European countries in signing a United Nations resolution to decriminalize homosexuality. And while the Pope is already an independent city-state, they're now taking their fight to go it alone to a new level: The Vatican will no longer automatically adopt Italian law as its own … beginning tomorrow.

The Vatican will no longer automatically adopt Italian laws as its own when a new statute comes into effect on Thursday, according to Vatican daily Osservatore Romano.

Jose' Maria Serrano Ruiz, president of the Commission for the Revision of the Code of Vatican Law, said the move was motivated by the "exorbitant number" of Italian laws, as well as their "instability" and frequent contrast with "the irreversible principles of the Church".

Although the Vatican is an independent city-state, its residents are largely recognised as Italian citizens.

Under the current statute signed by Pope Piux XI in 1929, Italian laws are accepted by the Holy See except in cases where there is "radical incompatibility" with the basic principles of canon law, Ruiz said.

But the new statute signed by Pope Benedict XVI will mean all Italian laws will have to be examined by Vatican authorities before they are adopted as part of the city-state's own legislation.