News Brief: Pope declares gay marriage, abortion most "insidious and dangerous" threats to world

During his visit to Portugal, Pope Benedict decried the most grave threats to life as we know it. Overpopulation? Global warming? Starvation? Child rape? No. Gay marriage and abortion!

Benedict traveled to Portugal as the nation decides to join five other European nations in legalizing same-sex marriage. He spoke out against the practice at Fatima, a popular Catholic shrine, asking Catholics to support initiatives that would protect “the family based on the indissoluble marriage between a man and a woman, help to respond to some of today’s most insidious and dangerous threats to the common good.”

Benedict also called for greater involvement of religion in politics:

Benedict called for “authentic witnesses to Jesus Christ” in “those human situations where the silence of the faith is most widely and deeply felt: among politicians, intellectuals, communications professionals who profess and who promote a monocultural ideal, with disdain for the religious and contemplative dimension of life.”

He added that “in such circles are found some believers who are ashamed of their beliefs and who even give a helping hand to this type of secularism, which builds barriers before Christian inspiration.”

In keeping with Catholic tradition, Benedict exhorted the ill and inform to glory in their agonies.

“In suffering, you will discover an interior peace and even spiritual joy,” he said.

More at the New York Times and CNS.

Related articles:

1. Laura Bush comes out . . . as supporting gay marriage, abortion rights
2. Pope: Condoms Spread AIDS
3. In Brief: Weekly Poll: Should Pope Benedict XVI be Arrested and Put on Trial?
4. Most US Catholics think Pope Benedict should not resign
5. Parker: God Will Judge Us For Abortion, Gay Marriage

Jenny Donati is webmistress and co-editor of Secular News Daily. Jenny is an outspoken secularist who believes firmly in the separation of church and state. She demands evidence to support arguments, and holds herself to the same standard. She doesn't write about herself in the third person . . . but there's a first time for everything.

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