Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Head of Vatican Press Office Denies Pope Blessed Supporter of Ugandan Anti-Homosexual Bill

All over social media (and in the press http://www.xtra.ca/blog/national/post/2012/12/14/Ugandan-PM-hesitates-over-anti-gay-bill-as-pope-blesses-Kadaga.aspx) , gay activists have been alleging that the pope supports a bill in Uganda that mandates the death penalty for certain acts (dubbed the "Kill the Gays" bill).

Why?

Because the pope was photographed with Uganda's Parliamentary Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga. She supports laws against sodomy and the death penalty. Gay activists alleged he had blessed her.

Fr. Lombardi, head of the Holy See Press Office, said no blessing took place.

He said that greeting a Parliamentary delegation does not constitute approval of any particular legislation.

The Press Secretary said that the Pope staunchly opposes the death penalty. He also said that the Archbishop of Kampala, Mgr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, strongly criticized the bill.

(More about the Bill).