Vatican City, Nov 8, 2006 / 22:00 pm
The Press Office of the Holy See expressed the Vaticans “intense disapproval” of a “demonstration of homosexual pride,” tomorrow in the Holy Land and asked for the beliefs of the world’s Jewish, Muslim, and Christians to be respected.
"With regret it was learned that ... on November 10, a so-called 'demonstration of homosexual pride' is due to take place in Jerusalem,” the Vatican communication began.
"Reiterating the pronouncements of the Catechism of the Catholic Church concerning people with deep-seated homosexual tendencies (para. 2358),” the message said, “the Holy See expresses its intense disapproval of this initiative, because it constitutes a grave affront to the feelings of millions of Jewish, Muslim and Christian believers, who all recognize the sacred character of the city of Jerusalem and ask that their beliefs be respected.”
"In the light of these factors and considering that on previous occasions religious values have been systematically offended, the Holy See nourishes the hope that the matter may be given due reconsideration,” the communiqué indicated.
"A note to the same effect has been presented by the apostolic nunciature in Israel to that country's ministry for foreign affairs," it concluded.
That note, written in English, begins: "The Holy See has reiterated on many occasions that the right to freedom of expression, sanctioned by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is subject to just limits, in particular when the exercise of this right would offend the religious sentiments of believers."