Italian families rally for lawmakers to support traditional families

Published: 2007-05-14

ROME (CNS) -- A pro-family rally calling on Italian politicians to support traditional families and turn down legislation giving legal rights to unmarried couples drew more than 1 million people to Rome's St. John Lateran Square. The May 12 Family Day rally was organized by hundreds of lay organizations, many of them Catholic groups or movements such as Catholic Action, Communion and Liberation, charismatic renewal, the Neocatechumenal Way and pro-life groups. According to organizers, approximately 1.5 million people turned out for the rally, which also was supported by the Italian bishops' conference. Bishop Giuseppe Anfossi of Aosta, president of the Italian bishops' commission for the family, said the church would like to see legislators put forward policies offering concrete support for traditional families, especially young people.

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