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CATHOLIC CHURCH'S WEEKEND ATTACK ON GAY MARRIAGE
Tue, 25 September 2012
Both the Pope and a leading American Cardinal have attacked same-sex marriage over the weekend, leading Lady Gaga to respond.
On Friday, Pope Benedict XVI told French bishops that “Marriage and the family are institutions that must be promoted and defended from every possible misrepresentation of their true nature, since whatever is injurious to them is injurious to society itself”.
His, and the Church's, position on the matter were further affirmed by Chicago Archbishop Cardinal Francis George on Sunday.
George has been criticised for choosing the occasion of a celebratory mass of 400 heterosexual couples' 50-year anniversaries to take a dig against gay marriage.
He said that marriage “comes to us from God,” not from the government, and insisted that the Bible defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.
“There must surely be ways in our civil society, where we can honour friendships, where we can respect other people, without destroying the nature of marriage," said George.
"It is very important, for your whole lives, give witness to what marriage truly means. And while civil laws might change – if they do – then society will be the worse for it.”
Commenting on the Pope's statement, pop-star and gay rights activist Lady Gaga said that “What the Pope thinks of being gay does not matter to the world. It matters to the people who like the Pope and follow the Pope. It is not a reflection of all religious people."
She further told Europe 1 radio: "And to all the gay people here. May you live and love each other until the end of time. And I hope you will have the human right to breed as an entirely equal, valuable and special member of society.”
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