Austrian Catholic activists criticize Pope's trip
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Some Catholic Church activists in Austria accused Pope Benedict of devoting too little time to hear ordinary churchgoers' concerns during a visit starting on Friday and said he was risking losing more of his flock.
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The inclusion of prayers calling for conversions has led to sharp criticism of the Vatican.
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A conservative U.S. lawyer's  attempt to enlist the Vatican in his drive to declare Senator  John Kerry a heretic over his abortion views backfired  Wednesday when the Holy See said it had been hoodwinked.
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The Vatican complains of a 'militant secularism' sidelining the Church from public life in Europe.
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ROME (Der Spiegel) - Echoes of an old culture war have been rippling through Europe, as a bishop in Germany calls for Catholics to keep their kids away from a sex-education musical and the Vatican condemns a new gay-rights campaign in Italy. A children's musical about sex and babies, organized by the German government, has been touring the country since 2003 without noticeable friction. But now it's arrived in the city of Fulda, near Frankfurt, and the local bishop has called for a boycott. The Fairytale of Nose, Belly and Butt should be avoided by right-thinking Catholic families, according to Heinz Josef Algermissen, because in the Church's view, "explanations about sexuality belong in the home," and "can't be left to a theater troupe." The show's Web site begs to differ, saying the theory behind the project is that humans are "sexual beings from birth onward," and that children experience "smooching and touching genitals as no less fun or significant than tickling their big toe." Uproar in Italy, too This notion of human sexuality is no doubt as offensive to the Church as the idea that humans might be wired from birth to be straight or gay - which is the assumption behind an Italian ad campaign protested recently by the Vatican. The regional government of Tuscany has planned to use a photo of a newborn child wearing a hospital bracelet with the word "homosexual" as part of a publicity push to combat homophobia. "Sexual orientation," reads the tag line, which will appear on billboards throughout Tuscany, "is not a choice."  Italy's political right, along with some Catholic groups, want the campaign to be withdrawn. The Church's declared position is that homosexuality is a psychological disorder, not exactly a sin - although indulging in gay sex is a sin.
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Pope Benedict sets off on Tuesday  on one of the most delicate trips by a Pontiff, visiting  Turkey, where resentment is seething over his comments on Islam  and opposition to Ankara's EU bid.
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Crowds have begun converging in central Istanbul for a demonstration called by a small Islamist party against the visit to Turkey by Pope Benedict XVI, which starts on Tuesday.
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The Spanish Catholic Church's about-face on the use of condoms in the fight against AIDS was met with anger by left-wing politicians, commentators and gay rights groups who labeled the church's position as unreasonable and inhuman.
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The row over Italian commissioner Rocco Buttiglione highlights the Vatican's struggle for influence in Europe.
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The arrest of a Catholic priest drew criticism from human rights groups Thursday, who charged that the US-backed government was illegally trying to suppress support for ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
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Benedict XVI has been known to say incendiary things when out on tour. Vatican officials are hoping for a quiet pilgrimage to Vienna
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Pope Benedict XVI came under a hail of criticism from the Islamic world Friday for comments he made earlier in the week in Germany regarding the Prophet Mohammed and the Muslim faith.
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Pope Benedict XVI had said earlier that his visit to Austria was aimed partly at showing ârepentance.â
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A German cardinal has criticized nostalgia for communism in the former East Germany.
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Several thousand faithful packed a square in central Vienna Sunday as Pope Benedict XVI wrapped up a three-day visit to Austria with a Mass and a stop at a medieval abbey outside the capital.
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Turkish police on Friday appealed for  restraint at planned protests against Pope Benedict's visit to  the Muslim country next week, saying they could harm Turkey's  image.
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Archbishop of Canterbury hits out at attempts by church leaders to undermine support for gay rights