Posted on 08/21/2011 7:39:16 AM PDT by bronxville
Madrid - Pope Benedict XVI warned in a speech to more than one million pilgrims in Madrid that marriage is between a man and a woman and cannot be dissolved...
"The Lord calls many people to marriage, in which a man and a woman, in becoming one flesh, find fulfilment in a profound life of communion," he told the young pilgrims.
A Vatican spokesman said on Sunday as many as 1.5 million pilgrims had gathered to hear the pope. Marriage was a project for true love, deepened by sharing joys and sorrows, and marked by "complete self-giving", said the pope.
"For this reason, to acknowledge the beauty and goodness of marriage is to realize that only a setting of fidelity and indissolubility, along with an openness to God's gift of live, is adequate to the grandeur and dignity of marital love."
The Roman Catholic Church has condemned the sweeping liberal reforms brought in by Spain's Socialist government in recent years, including easier access to abortion, gay marriage and fast-track divorce.
The attitude of the pope, spiritual leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, has sparked anger among the gay and lesbian community in Spain, however.
Spanish police on Thursday foiled plans by 100 gays and lesbians to stage a kiss-in before the pope in Madrid, blocking the protesters before they could meet up.
Read more: http://www.indiavision.com/news/article/international/221091/pope-defends-marriage-between-man-and-woman/#ixzz1VfqtJrMD
“The attitude of the pope, spiritual leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, has sparked anger among the gay and lesbian community in Spain, however.”
SAY IT ISN’T SO?!!!!!
Yes, one can see clearly that it was nothing to do with the cost as that was covered. It’s all to do with the Church approving their lifestyle which can never happen.
Ana Munoz, 20, student, Atheist, Madrid and London
“I don’t see how a million extra tourists in Spain could be in any way an economic burden for the central and regional governments. It’s putting Spain in the spotlight - and this time not because of our poor economic situation or unemployment rate.”
“I was in town when the protests were happening - and from what I saw the focus was on religion, rather than the cost of the visit.”
“Most of the placards I saw were against the Pope or Christian beliefs. People were shouting harsh things at the pilgrims, referring to the Pope as a “Nazi”. They were also flying communist and Republican flags.”
“I saw two gay men trying to provoke a priest by kissing and taunting him.”
“I am an atheist but I expect people to respect those with faith. By tradition and by majority, Spain is Catholic. A lot of our culture is based on religion.”
“In a way it is not surprising. I feel that the youth movements such as the indignants have been radicalised by those with anti-religious feelings.”
“The Socialist Party, which has been in the government for the past seven years, has had a very clear anti-Christian agenda.”
“This has created an even wider division in society as we are told to negate our religious culture and tradition for the sake of “modernity”.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14582213
Alicia Lopez, 32, unemployed (protestor), Madrid
“I joined the demonstration against the Pope’s visit. The main issue is the cost of the visit, especially at a time when the government is slashing social spending.”
“One Church has taken over the whole city”
“Where is all the money coming from? I don’t believe all the money has been raised privately. And they’ve opened up state facilities for use by the Church - for example schools for pilgrims to sleep in.”
“I’m also against the prominence this has given to the Catholic Church. One Church has taken over the whole city. Spain is a non-confessional state, there is no official religion in this country and we should not give so much support to the Catholic Church.”
“I witnessed confrontation between protesters and pilgrims - but from what I saw it was the pilgrims who were doing the provoking.”
“The path of the demonstration took us through the central Sol Square but when we came to it there were pilgrims there. They shouted slogans such as “This square belongs to the Pope” and “This is the youth of Pope” and “This is the youth of Spain”.”
“The police moved them from Sol, but many remained on the roads leading to the central square. Some of the pilgrims continued to shout slogans, which provoked protesters to shout back.”
“As I left the protest with my placard calling for a secular state, a middle-aged woman shouted at me saying I was the shame of Spain.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14582213
Spain needs another Franco to thin out their ranks.
Eva Moreno, 38, lawyer (Catholic), Madrid
“I think it’s great that the leader of the Catholic Church has come to our Catholic country.”
“After all, we allow supporters of Real Madrid to fill the street”
“It’s a great moment to remember the core values of the Church like charity and justice.”
“I feel really excited about the visit - I feel young again - and I plan to go to the main events.”
“There are some who are protesting against the visit - but they are small in number compared to those who have come to see the Pope.”
“And I would say to the protesters that we, as Catholics, have the right to express our opinion and our support for the Pope.”
“After all, we allow supporters of Real Madrid to fill the streets. Those who protest should be tolerant of our opinion.”
“I think it is false to say that this visit is costing the taxpayer as the visit is being paid for by pilgrims and sponsors.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14582213
It’s their last hurrah since the governing Socialists aare about to lose to the conservative PP party at the general election in November. The Conservatives will probably takeover in September.
I’m shocked. SHOCKED! Everywhere the pope goes - no matter what country - there are a bunch of gays and lesbians carrying around sparked anger.
- This is such a cute picture with the hat and his adorable little red shoes.
- Worshippers join Pope Benedict XVI, on the stage at center, in a prayer at Madrid's Cibeles square Thursday Aug. 18, 2011.
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