Congressman Kennedy Calls Church 'Bigoted'

CATHOLIC LEAGUE, Aug. 6 — The Providence Journal quoted Congressman Patrick Kennedy calling the Church's “policy” of opposition to same-sex marriages an example of “bigotry.” In a news release, Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights president William Donohue responded:

“The Catholic Church does not have a 'policy' on marriage — it has a teaching that is rooted in Scripture. … [W]hy did it take him so long to label the Catholic Church's teaching on marriage 'bigoted?' After all, it has maintained the same teaching for 2,000 years.”

Donohue asked for Kennedy to “come clean” and explain “exactly how 'tolerant' he is about qualifications for marriage.” For instance, does Kennedy think it “'bigoted' to oppose incestuous marriages? How about polygamy? Or the idea that three men can marry?”

Finally, Donohue wondered aloud why Kennedy would “want to maintain membership in an organization that is 'bigoted?' Does it not make him a bigot for supporting a 'bigoted' organization on Sundays?”

Church to Study Genetically Modified Foods

ASSOCIATED PRESS/THE TIMES (London), Aug. 4 — The Vatican waded into a new controversy Aug. 3 — the battle over genetically modified foods — by stating that these foods may hold the solution to world hunger, the Associated Press reported.

Archbishop Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said the Holy See would publish a full statement on biotechnology next month and that it would favor the use of these high-tech foods. Genetically modified foods are opposed by environmental-ists, who fear the long-term effects on human and ecological health.

“The problem of hunger involves the conscience of every man and in particular those of the Christians,” Archbishop Martino told Vatican Radio. “For this reason the Catholic Church follows with special interest and solicitude every development in science to help the solution of a plight that afflicts such a large part of humanity.”

The archbishop noted that every day around the world 24,000 people die of starvation.

Are Tourists Trashing Italy's Churches?

ASSOCIATED PRESS ONLINE, July 30 — Across Italy, landmark churches are complaining of vandalism and abuse, the AP Online reported.

The millions of tourists who visit these churches each year have begun to take their toll, according to police and municipal officials.

The entrance to Santa Maria Maggiore is now closed to keep out drunks and amorous couples; Venetian authorities are imposing $56 fines on people who leave behind food in San Marco Square, and Florentine churchmen have called on visitors not to use church buildings as latrines.

In a news conference, Msgr. Timothy Verdon of Florence's Duomo bemoaned the disrespect shown the famous cathedral by visitors.

The AP noted that Italian cities cannot afford the police required to protect the historic sites. In Vatican City, by contrast, there are strictly enforced rules against picnicking in St. Peter's Square — and it is kept pristine.