Vatican spokesman defends opposition to UN homosexuality resolution

December 03, 2008

Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, defended Archbishop Celestino Migliore’s opposition to a proposed UN declaration condemning discrimination based on orientation. Archbishop Migliore, whose comments have been condemned on the editorial pages of major Italian newspapers, is apostolic nuncio and permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.

"Obviously no one wants to defend the death penalty for homosexuals, as some would insinuate," said Father Lombardi. "The well-known principles of respect for the fundamental rights of the person and the rejection of all unjust discrimination-- recognized clearly by the Catechism of the Catholic Church itself-- evidently exclude not only the death penalty, but all violent or discriminatory penal legislations in relation to homosexuals." Noting that fewer than 50 of the UN’s 192 member nations support the declaration, Father Lombardi added, “It moreover introduces a declaration of political value that could result in systems of control, according to which, every norm-- not only legal, but also related to the life of social or religious groups-- which does not place every sexual orientation on exactly the same level could be considered as contrary to respect of human rights.” He continued, “This could clearly become an instrument of pressure or discrimination against those who, just to put a very clear example, consider marriage between a man and a woman to be the fundamental and original form of social life, and as such, [believe] that it should have a privileged place.”

 

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Further information:

• Fr. Lombardi Clarifies Holy See's Position on Decriminalisation of Homosexuality (Vatican Radio)
• Vatican Opposes Discrimination Against Homosexuals; Spokesman Restates Teaching After Holy See Criticized (Zenit)
• Vatican makes clear its opposition to UN homosexuality declaration (CNS)
• Vatican attacked for opposing gay decriminalization (Reuters)
• Vatican delegate opposes UN declaration condemning discrimination based on sexual orientation (CWN, Dec. 2)