Church stand against prostitution puts it in middle of policy debates

Published: 2007-11-08

BUCHAREST, Romania (CNS) -- The Catholic Church's stand against prostitution and trafficking puts it in the middle of public policy debates heating up in Eastern Europe. Pope Benedict XVI's homeland, Germany, has legalized prostitution and is accused of luring women from poorer countries -- mainly the Czech Republic, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine -- into brothels and sex clubs. Earlier this year in Bulgaria, legislation proposing the legalization of prostitution emerged from a working group involving the Interior Ministry and the National Tourism Board. In Romania, a top adviser to the president began advocating legalized prostitution a year ago. A draft law was circulated through ministries and was signed by a high-profile female minister of justice who is currently an official of the European Union. In Moldova, the media reported in February that a law to legalize prostitution was under consideration by the government. To date, it has not been formally proposed. The Catholic Church opposes moves to legalize prostitution in each country.

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