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TechnoratiThe Vatican spokesman stated on Thursday that the Roman Catholic Church does not oppose efforts to decriminalize homosexuality despite its opposition against a U.N. declaration on gay rights.
Regarding a "penal code that criminalizes homosexuals or even foresees the death penalty for them, there is nothing to discuss: The Holy See is totally opposed," Vatican's chief spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told reporters Thursday, according to Zenit News Agency.
"It is a position that respects the rights of the human person, in his dignity," Lombardi said during the presentation of the papal message for the World Day of Peace. He also stated the Church's opposition to "any unjust discrimination on the basis of homosexuality."
His comments were in response to a firestorm of protests by gay rights advocates surrounding the Holy See's opposition to a United Nations proposal condemning "discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity."
The non-binding resolution, backed by the 27-member European Union, calls on governments worldwide to decriminalize homosexuality. France, which put forth the initiative on Human Rights Day, is expected to submit a draft of the proposal at the U.N. General Assembly next week.
Controversy erupted over the issue after Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican's envoy to the United Nations, told a French Catholic newspaper that the Vatican opposed the proposal, saying it would "add new categories of those protected from discrimination" and could "create new and implacable discriminations."
States which do not allow homosexuals to marry will be "pilloried" to recognize same-sex marriage and "made an object of pressure," Migliore said.
Under the proposed declaration, nations that "do not put every sexual orientation on exactly the same level can be considered contrary to the respect of human rights," Lombardi had earlier explained.
The Vatican position prompted several demonstrations by gay rights activists, including a protest inside the Vatican last weekend. The protesters hung nooses around their necks as they accused the Church of being an "accomplice in the martyrdom" of homosexuals.
Faith leaders belonging to a U.S. coalition of gay rights groups issued a statement Wednesday denouncing the Vatican's opposition to the proposed initiative.
"By refusing to sign a basic statement opposing inhumane treatment of LGBT people, the Vatican is sending a message that violence and human rights abuses against LGBT people are acceptable," read the statement.
"Most Catholics, and indeed most Catholic teachings, tell us that all people are entitled to live with basic human dignity without the threat of violence."
The statement also called on the United States to back the proposed initiative, claiming that "in more than 70 countries people can be imprisoned for homosexuality and in several countries same gender love is a crime punishable by death."
Lombardi made clear Thursday that while the Holy See opposes "legislation that penalizes homosexuality," the Church still disagrees with any initiatives that are aimed at "putting all forms of sexual orientation on the same level."
"The Church sustains that marriage is between one man and one woman and it does not accept that unions of persons of the same sex are placed at the same level." Continue »
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