Vatican Newspaper Blasts Italian Proposal

THE WASHINGTON POST, Dec. 10 — L’Osservatore Romano said that Italy’s government is seeking to “eradicate” the traditional family with its plan for a law that would give unmarried couples, including homosexuals, some of the same rights as married couples, The Post reported.

The Senate majority early in December called unanimously on the government to come up with legislation for all unmarried couples by the end of January. And Premier Romano Prodi, who was elected in April, said during his election campaign that he planned legal recognition for unmarried couples. Members of the opposition have promised to fight the proposed measure. On Dec. 10, the Vatican newspaper referred to an editorial with the headline “Christmas 2006: Eradicating the family is the priority of Italian politics.”

“Fifteen days till Christmas. And there are some who are making other calculations, who are thinking of other deadlines,” the editorial said. “We’re talking about the first month of next year as the deadline for a senseless battle.”

Holy Father Warns Against Nuclear Arms Race

AKI, Dec. 12 — Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his concern about a new race to nuclear arms, in a message to celebrate the Church’s World Day of Peace Jan. 1, 2007, reported AKI.

The text of his wide-ranging speech was presented in the Vatican Dec. 12 by Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Pope Benedict said he was disturbed at “the desire recently shown by some countries to acquire nuclear weapons,” saying this “heightened even more the widespread climate of uncertainty and fear of a possible atomic catastrophe. We are brought back in time to the profound anxieties of the ‘cold war’ period.”

He also urged the international community to apply humanitarian law to protect civilian lives in present-day conflicts, saying efforts were needed to prevent such situations as occurred during the recent war in Lebanon.
He said, “The heart-rending situation in Lebanon and the new shape of conflicts, especially since the terrorist threat unleashed completely new forms of violence, demand that the international community reaffirm international humanitarian law, and apply it to all present-day situations of armed conflict, including those not currently provided for by international law.”

Vatican: Holocaust Was an ‘Immense Tragedy’ 

ASSOCIATED PRESS, Dec. 12 — To counteract the two-day conference of Holocaust deniers in Iran, the Vatican reiterated that the Holocaust was an “immense tragedy” that must serve as a warning to people’s consciences, reported the Associated Press.

The Dec. 10-12 conference, initiated by Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, drew skeptics from across the world, including ultra-Orthodox Jews, to debate whether the genocide of Jews during World War II took place.

“The Shoah (Holocaust) was a great tragedy before which we cannot remain indifferent,” the Vatican said in a statement. “The memory of those horrible events must remain as a warning for people’s consciences, to eliminate conflicts, respect the rights of all peoples, exhort for peace, truth and justice.”

Doubleday Acquires Pope Benedict’s First Book

RANDOMHOUSE.COM, Dec. 12 — Pope Benedict XVI’s first book as the Holy Father has been acquired by Doubleday, it was announced today by Bill Barry, vice president and publisher of the company’s religious publishing division.

Jesus of Nazareth: From His Baptism to His Transfiguration, which will be written for the general reader, will be published in spring 2007. Doubleday acquired world English, first serial, audio and exclusive Spanish language rights in North America from the Italian publisher Rizzoli, which licensed international rights to the book at the behest of Libreria Editrice Vaticana, the publishing arm of the Vatican.

“Having previously published works by Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, we are especially honored by the Holy Father’s confidence in Doubleday in entrusting to us the English language publication of his book,” Barry said. “It is truly a gift for all believers and sure to be an instant spiritual classic.”