Pope Benedict XVI made a statement today in which he criticized the legal recognition of gay marriages and defended the “masculinity and femininity of human beings”. The pope's criticism is a sign of the unease in the Vatican's relationship with Italy's left-wing parties, led by Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who has promised recognition of gay rights. Benedict XVI was even harsher with those who defend the equality of gay couples with heterosexual couples. “This gives value to dark theories that deny any relevance to the masculinity or femininity of human beings as if this were a purely biological issue.” This week, two left-wing parliamentarians caused outrage in Italy by placing four dolls (two “Barbies” and two “Kens”) representing homosexual couples in the nativity scene set up in the Italian Parliament.
