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Peter reports on 30,000 strong demonstration against the Vatican's bigotry

Stop the Pope's bigotry

Peter Tatchell

Tuesday, 17 February 2009

One hundred protesters marched to the Italian Embassy in London on Saturday 14 February 2009, in solidarity with a simultaneous 30,000-strong demonstration in Rome. Protesters in both cities were demanding that the Italian government cease appeasing the Vatican and stop giving it special legal and political privileges. They urged a secular Europe. The rally at the Italian Embassy in London was addressed by Terry Sanderson of the National Secular Society, Bob Churchill of the British Humanist Association, Marco Tranchino of the Central London Humanist Group. The London marchers carried placards with the slogans: "For a secular Europe. Vatican out!" and "No to Vatican. Stop Pope's bigotry."

The demonstration demanded that the Vatican stop abusing its power to oppose human rights. We also want the Italian government to cease kow-towing to the Pope's theocratic agenda. Our aim is a secular Europe, where people are free to practice their faith but where no religion has privileged legal status and unique access to political power and influence.

We are appalled by the Pope's repeated attacks on the rights of women and gay people and by his wilful opposition to life-saving condom provision. The Italian government too often allows itself to be bullied by the Vatican, on issues such as same-sex civil marriage and sex education in schools. Officially part of the United Nations, the Vatican's observer-state status allows it to influence UN debates on issues, such as birth control, abortion and homosexuality. No other faith has this privileged status, access and influence at the UN. Last December, the Vatican opposed a UN statement calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality worldwide and for gay people to be protected against discrimination and violence.

The Vatican does not shrink from using threats and intimidation to enforce its will. In a bid to keep Catholic MPs in line with Papal policy opposing gay equality, the Vatican has threatened to excommunicate any Catholic legislator who votes for same-sex civil unions. The Pope encourages us to view women as inferior to men by barring them from the priesthood and by stating that the two genders are naturally different and that women are biologically inclined for a more mothering and domestic role in life. In many Catholic countries, women who have had a divorce or abortion, and women who are living as single parents, tend to suffer religious-inspired stigma and discrimination.

If Catholics suffer discrimination I will be the first to defend them. Equally, when the Pope supports discrimination against women and gay people I will be the first to oppose him. That is the difference between me and the Pope. I oppose all discrimination, including against Catholics. He supports sexist and homophobic discrimination whenever it suits his intolerant interpretation of the Christian faith.

Saturday's protest was endorsed by the British Humanist Association, National Secular Society, OutRage!, the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association and many others.

For more information about Peter Tatchell's human rights campaigns and to make a donation www.petertatchell.net