Italians Rally for Abortion Rights, Gay Unions
Rallies, Denounced by Church, Government Ministers, Fuel Election Debate
By Frances D'Emilio
Associated Press
Sunday, January 15, 2006; Page A22
ROME, Jan. 14 -- Tens of thousands of women marched through Milan on Saturday to demand that Italy keep its liberal abortion law intact while gays rallied in Rome to push for legal recognition for homosexual couples.
Both topics have become issues in Italy's election campaign, and the Roman Catholic Church and ministers in Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's conservative government were scathing in denouncing the rallies.
"These demonstrators are really nauseating," said Reforms Minister Roberto Calderoli, a member of the right-wing Northern League, according to the Italian news agency ANSA. "Family is a serious thing, based on love between a man and a woman."
Culture Minister Rocco Buttiglione, who is close to the Vatican, told reporters that people's energy should be spent on what he called pro-family efforts such as finding jobs and housing.
"These are the political problems you should put the spotlight on, because without children, Italy dies," Buttiglione said....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/14/AR2006011401028.html