Italian bishops: Rights for gay, unmarried couples at odds with faith

Published: 2007-03-28

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Supporting legislation that gives legal rights to gay or heterosexual couples who are not married is a position that is not consistent with the Catholic faith, said members of the permanent council of the Italian bishops' conference. "The faithful Christian is obliged to form his conscience" in accordance with the teaching of the Catholic Church, the bishops said in a statement released March 28 as Italian politicians continued to debate legislative proposals recognizing unions formed by unmarried couples, including homosexuals. The bishops' statement quoted the 2002 statement of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on "The Participation of Catholics in Political Life." The Vatican document, signed by the future Pope Benedict XVI, said Catholic politicians "cannot appeal to the principle of pluralism or to the autonomy of lay involvement in political life to support policies affecting the common good which compromise or undermine fundamental ethical requirements."

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .