Catholic Church: Pope Benedict speaks out against Gay Marriage

At a recent meeting at the Vatican in honor of the accredited Vatican diplomatic corps Pope Benedict XV of the Catholic Church told diplomats from nearly 180 countries that the education of children needed proper "settings" and that "pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman."

"This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself," he said.

The Vatican and Catholic officials around the world have protested against moves to legalize gay marriage in Europe and other developed parts of the world.

Gay marriage is legal in a number of European countries, including Spain and the Netherlands.

Some Churches that have allowed gay marriage, women priests, gay clergy and gay bishops have been losing members to Catholicism, and the Vatican has taken steps to facilitate their conversion.

EU-Digest

Pope heads for Croatia to defend Christian Europe

Pope Benedict XVI sets off for Croatia Saturday for a two-day visit aimed at reaffirming Christian values that he believes are under threat in increasingly secular societies across Europe.

The pope is expected to receive a warm welcome in the 90-percent Catholic country of 4.4 million people that is preparing to join the European Union. An atheist group however held a small rally on the eve of his visit, with slogans advocating the use of condoms and condemning child abuse by priests.

The pope was to deliver a speech on Saturday to young people and leading cultural figures in which he was set to give strong backing to Croatia's moves to integrate into Europe without renouncing its strong Christian identity.

For more: AFP: Pope heads for Croatia to defend Christian Europe