Newspaper Decries Homosexual ‘Marriage’ in Canada

ASSOCIATED PRESS, July 21 — The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano called Canada's legalization of homosexual “marriage” a distortion of God's plan for the family, Associated Press reported.

Canada became the fourth nation to grant full legal rights to same-sex couples when the Supreme Court's chief justice signed legislation July 20.

“The distortion of God's plan for the family continues,” said the Vatican daily. “In Canada, homosexual unions have become equal to marriage.”

International Cooperation Urged to Combat Terrorism

AGENZIA GIORNALISTICA ITALIA, July 12 — “Joint international efforts” are needed in the face of the aggressive terrorist onslaught, according to the Vatican's UN delegate during talks on illegal arms trading in New York.

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia quoted Bishop Celestino Migliore saying the fight against “terrorism, organized crime and human trafficking” requires a common approach. Apart from “illegal arms trading, we should be looking into the causes of such demand.”

What's needed is a concerted effort aimed at “establishing the culture of peace.” The Vatican also highlighted the human rights side of conflicts and the need to “safeguard child-soldiers.” This requires “long-term strategies” and “investments towards prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace building.” The Vatican also emphasized its open support of “a binding international arms trade convention.”

Vatican Praises Kingdom of Bahrain

GULF DAILY NEWS, July 5 — Archbishop Giuseppe De Andrea, Vatican ambassador to Bahrain, praised the Middle Eastern kingdom for its contribution to dialogue between religions, the Gulf Daily News reported.

Archbishop De Andrea presented the Official Medal of the Pontificate of the late Pope John Paul II to former Islamic Affairs Undersecretary Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Khalifa played a key role in organizing the first Islamic-Christian dialogue held in Bahrain in 2002. He is the first person from the Middle East to receive the honor.

Archbishop De Andrea said in a letter of commendation, “It is not only a memento of John Paul, whom the whole world admired, but an enduring token of the profound and fraternal respect and appreciation we have for Shaikh Khaifa.”

Italy Increases Security Around Vatican

ASSOCIATED PRESS, July 11 — Police stepped up the alert level around the Vatican, subway workers removed trash bins and an around-the-clock security monitoring system was installed at Italian airports after the London bombings, Associated Press reported.

Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu convened top security and law enforcement officers for a second day of talks July 8 and “particular attention” was paid to the possible threat to Italy and preventive measures that had to be taken, a ministry statement said.

Reforms Minister Roberto Calderoli said, “It's evident that after New York, Madrid and London, Italy represents the most probable next objective of the terrorists. The time has come to begin to think also about our house, and to use the same resources currently committed in Iraq to prevent and combat possible attacks on our territory.”