Pope Benedict XVI has criticised the government of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi over legislation that would create civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. Prodi's cabinet, in a stormy special meeting, approved the legislation this week. The Pope carefully did not specifically mention Prodi or the Italian government in his speech to Colombia's new ambassador to the Holy See but coming a day after the approval of the bill the intent was clear. "The Catholic Church will continue to proclaim ceaselessly the inalienable greatness of human dignity," Benedict said, calling on Catholics in legislatures and the judiciary to ensure that "laws always are the expression of principles which promote the authentic common good." Popes seldom directly involve themselves in Italian politics under an accord reached after the unification of Italy when the Vatican was accorded statehood within Italy. Instead they make general and diplomatic remarks that leave little doubt about their intent. The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano is more direct usually serving at the "unofficial" voice of the Pope. On Friday it said that the proposed law "wounded" the family as an institution. The bill is expected to be presented to Parliament - where Prodi has a razor thin majority - later this month. The opposition right of center coalition, led by Silvio Berlusconi and aligned with the Vatican, already has said it will vote against the civil unions bill. Even Prodi's own coalition government has deep divisions. A loose coalition of nine small parties, his government has been grappling with civil partnerships for moths. Communists on the far left of the coalition have been pressing for full marriage. The tiny UDEUR Party is opposed to any legislation. Several UDEUR members have said that when the bill comes before Parliament they will vote against the bill even if it brings down the government. The civil partnership legislation would allow same-sex couples to sign a civil registry and then share pensions, health insurance, enter into contracts, and permit them to be considered the same as married couples for public housing. Ref: 365gay.com (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Saturday, 10th February 2007 - 12:00pm