Roy Rogers would have simply asked Pat Brady to drive Nellybelle into a fountain.
Mayor challenges pope during Genoa visit
18 May 2008 17:45:22 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Philip Pullella
GENOA, Italy, May 18 (Reuters) - The pro-abortion mayor of this large northwestern port city suggested to Pope Benedict in a public address on Sunday that the Church could not impose its views on the personal choices of citizens in a lay state.
Speaking during a visit by the pope to a children’s hospital, Mayor Marta Vincenzi told him a democratic state had to “work for the common good so that citizens can orient their lifestyles without impositions or inappropriate limitations”.
Earlier in the week, the Pope had condemned Italy’s abortion law, while Vincenzi, a leftist, had attended a pro-abortion rights demonstration in Genoa, one of Italy’s biggest cities.
The election of the new right-wing government led by Silvio Berlusconi has brought abortion, legalised in Italy 30 years ago, to the forefront again.
In his inaugural speech last week, Berlusconi included a promise to combat “the causes of abortion” and invoked “the help of God”.Conservative Catholics are hoping his government will go further and usher in changes to restrict abortion.
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Pope Benedict XVI with his Nuncio–George “Gabby” Hayes.
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Images: (Pope) weblogs.nesday.com; (Gabby) members.tripod.com via blogs.ebay.com; (mayor) mentelocale.it