Pope Benedict XVI, in his first clear pronouncement on gay marriages since his election, condemned same-sex unions as fake and expressions of ‘anarchic freedom’ that threatened the future of the family.
The Pope, who was addressing families in Rome's Saint John's Cathedral, also condemned divorce, artificial birth control, trial marriages and free-style unions, saying all of these practices were dangerous for the family.
The Pope has already backed a campaign by Italian bishops who have urged voters to boycott an emotionally-charged referendum this coming weekend that would lift bans on embryo research.
