This is rich. The Guardian reports that, on the eve of his first visit to the United Kingdom, Pope Ratzi is condemning various legislation in that nation that gives a fuller measure of equality to gay and lesbian citizens:
Pope Benedict XVI has condemned British equality legislation for running contrary to “natural law” as he confirmed his first visit to the UK later this year.
(…)
[H]e criticised UK legislation for creating “limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs”. It is thought his comments relate to laws that came in last year preventing adoption agencies from discriminating against gay couples and also Harriet Harman’s equality bill, currently going through parliament.
(…)
[Bishops and priests] told him sexual orientation legislation that came into effect on 1 January 2009 had forced the closure of half the Roman Catholic adoption agencies because the law making it illegal to discriminate against gay applicants went against their beliefs.
Yeah, first of all, just as in the United States, no Catholic adoption agency was “forced” to close. They simply decided to put anti-gay animus above serving children. You have to understand their reasoning, though. Adopting children to nice gay and lesbian couples could lower the chances that those kids would stay in the church, where the priests and bishops have full access to them.
Second of all, it’s been established that the phrase “natural law” when used by the pope is approximately as meaningless and unscientific as the phrase “macroevolution” when used by creationists.
Whatever, Ratzi.
UPDATE: The National Secular Society has a petition drive to ask that the Catholic Church, rather than British taxpayers, pay for the Pope’s visit. Go sign if you like that idea.
(h/t John Aravosis)
