Activists angered by Pope Benedict XVI’s recent comment about gay marriage have held a small protest in St. Peter’s Square during the pontiff’s weekly address there.
The protesters carried signs in several languages, including ones saying: “Marriage for All” and “Homophobia (equals) death.”
An Associated Press journalist saw police quickly seize placards from four of the protesters who entered the square Sunday as pilgrims and tourists were watching the pope appear at his studio window.
In his annual peace message released by the Vatican on Friday, the pontiff called gay marriage, and abortion, threats to peace.
The organizers of the protest issued a statement saying: `’Gay unions don’t harm peace. Weapons do.”
In the meantime, the policy arm of the Catholic Church in Illinois is lining up opposition to gay marriage legislation that lawmakers plan to call early next month.
Robert Gilligan is executive director of Catholic Conference of Illinois, which represents nearly 4 million Catholics in the state. He says marriage is unique because it’s a union between two genders and “same-sex marriage goes against nature.”
State Rep. Greg Harris and state Sen. Heather Steans said Thursday that they will push passage of their proposal in the final days of the current General Assembly’s session after the new year. Gov. Pat Quinn said this week he hopes to sign same-sex marriage into law in January.
