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Pope
Praises Supporters
Of Gay
Marriage Bans
In
Advance Of US Trip
By AP
from the Web, March 1, 2008
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Vatican City, Feb. 29 -- Pope
Benedict XVI told Washington's new ambassador Friday that he appreciates efforts
by what he said are the many Americans opposed to abortion, euthanasia and gay
marriage.
He welcomed the American people's "historic" appreciation of the role of
religion in shaping public policy.
This was reflected, he said, "in the efforts of so many of your fellow citizens
and government leaders to ensure legal protection for God's gift of life from
conception to natural death, and the safeguarding of the institution of
marriage, acknowledged as a stable union between a man and a woman, and that of
the family."
It was a message that Benedict has issued often during his nearly three-year
pontificate when speaking out against laws that permit abortion, euthanasia and
same-sex marriage.
Mary Ann Glendon, a Harvard law professor and anti-abortion scholar, has taken
up the post as ambassador to the Holy See just six weeks before Benedict's first
trip to United States.
She has assured Benedict that he will receive a warm welcome when he visits
Washington and New York "from a nation that understands the important
contribution offered by people of faith in our society."
The trip is April 15-20.
On foreign policy, Benedict stressed the importance of the work of the United
Nations and other international bodies and said trust in them was required to
meet the challenges in today's world.
Benedict said reconciling cultures and religions has become an urgent priority
and that the United States has served as an example for many younger nations in
that regard.
"I cannot fail to note with gratitude the importance which the United States has
attributed to interreligious and intercultural dialogue as a positive force for
peacemaking," the pope said.
On the Middle East, he expressed hope for the success of the recent
U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference with the Israelis and Palestinians.
Glendon said that the United States believes that "strong alliances, friendships
and international institutions" can promote freedom, prosperity and peace
through shared efforts.
"We recognize a privileged place in such a partnership for the Holy See, whose
strong moral voice resonates in the hearts of men and women throughout the
world," she said
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