Briefing. The gap between the law of the Italian state, like most states, and natural law, continues to widen, and Pope Benedict XVI has the courage to say 'no' to immoral laws. It is surprising, in retrospect, this did not happen before: Pope Paul VI, for example, did not feel able to make this gesture when Italy permitted divorce (in 1974), or John-Paul II when they legalised abortion (just before he was elected, in 1978). Pope Benedict XVI is reacting to the issues of civil partnerships and euthanasia.
From the BBC, in part: The Vatican City State, the world's smallest sovereign state, has decided to divorce itself from Italian law. Vatican legal experts say there are too many laws in Italian civil and criminal codes, and that they frequently conflict with Church principles. With effect from New Year's Day, the Pope has decided that the Vatican will no longer automatically adopt laws passed by the Italian parliament. All Italian laws will be examined one by one before they are adopted. [As will UN treaties.]
Under the Lateran treaties signed exactly 80 years ago between Italy and the Pope, and the Italian Parliamentary system, Italian laws were applied automatically.
See full story.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment