French Archbishop, Public Decry Anti-Family Bill

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESS, Sept. 10—In France, Church leaders are warning their countrymen about the detrimental effects of a new legislative effort by homosexual activists. French news services reported that the French government is considering giving marriage-like benefits to the live-in sexual partners of federal workers.

The “domestic partners” bill will be given its first reading in Parliament October 9, said the report. Catholics have already begun to decry the measure. Archbishop of Lyon Louis-Marie Bille, president of the French Catholic Bishops Conference, told the Agence France-Presse that the law would “increase the confusion and incoherence” of contemporary society and “weaken the family” according to the report.

He said the bill was a “suitcase with a false bottom,” saying it was impossible for two people of the same sex to be a “couple,” and insisted that the law would be a first step towards gay and lesbian marriages.

The public, for now, seems to be on the side of marriage. Lawmakers have received some 60,000 postcards and a petition signed by a reported 12,000 French mayors, both in emphatic opposition to the benefit arrangement, according to reports.

Hindus Join Catholics as Singer's Victims

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, Sept. 15—Catholics have long suffered the ridicule of popular singer Madonna, who has frequently used Church symbols and art in ways designed to titillate and offend. Now Hindus are complaining that she has shown disrespect to their religious customs as well.

Said the Philadelphia daily, “The World Vaishnava Association wants the singer to apologize for what it sees as her sacrilegious performance on last week's MTV Video Awards.” The report said the group was upset at her for wearing henna marriage markings, which represent purity, while dancing provocatively in revealing clothing.

Madonna, responding through a spokeswoman, was unrepentant. “The essence of purity and divinity is nonjudgment. They should practice what they preach. If they're so pure, why are they watching MTV?” her publicist Liz Rosenberg said of the singer's view, according to the report.

“She certainly had no intention of insulting anyone. On the other hand, I personally don't see that an apology is in order,” Rosenberg said. “I don't think this organization is necessarily speaking for an entire community.”

Cover or Cooperation? Irish Unite on Abortion

IRISH TIMES, Sept. 15—Pro-abortion activists often claim that they, like their pro-life opponents, wish that there were fewer abortions. In the United States, where the slogan “abortion should be safe, legal, and rare” is used by abortion's most vehement proponents, pro-lifers say they have a hard time trusting that sentiment.

Now, in Ireland a conference called “5,000 Too Many…” claims that it wishes to unite those on both sides of the issue to find ways to reduce the number of Irish women having abortions, said the Irish Times.

The idea started when newspaper columnist Breda O'Brien suggested the two sides “bypass the debate about constitutional and legal bans on abortion, and discuss how to reduce the number of Irish women actually having abortions in Britain.”

Wrote Ms. O'Brien, “Most of the debate has centered on medical and legal issues. While this kind of debate is no doubt necessary, it has left people polarized. More importantly, it has not had a major effect on the numbers of women who travel to Britain for abortion — quite the reverse in fact.

“Those who would describe themselves as pro-choice, pro-life, or somewhere in the middle would all agree that it is a tragedy that the numbers of Irish abortions are so high.” She said that everyone could better support women suffering from “crisis pregnancies.”

O'Brien helped organize a conference at which prominent figures from both sides were set to discuss their ideas on how to better serve pregnant women. The conference's supporters and participants include: Prof. Patricia Casey, Prof. Anthony Clare, whose research shows that abortion is most often caused by distress in a neglected woman, as well as Labor Party senator Dr. Mary Henry, Democratic Left lawmaker Liz McManus and Irish Catholic editor David Quinn.