Vatican City, Dec 19, 2008 / 15:04 pm
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the apostolic nuncio leading the Holy See’s permanent observer mission to the United Nations, has called for an end to unjust discrimination and criminal penalties directed against homosexual persons. However, he reiterated concerns that a U.N. proposal advocating legal protections for "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" is ill-defined and overbroad.
On Thursday afternoon Archbishop Migliore, speaking to a session of the UN General Assembly, remarked: "the Holy See appreciates the attempts made in the 'Declaration on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity' - presented at the UN General Assembly on 18 December 2008 - to condemn all forms of violence against homosexual persons as well as urge States to take necessary measures to put an end to all criminal penalties against them."
"At the same time, the Holy See notes that the wording of this Declaration goes well beyond the above-mentioned and shared intent," he added.
He said the document’s categories of "sexual orientation" and "gender identity," under international law, "find no recognition or clear and agreed definition."