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Vatican Splits Off From Italian Law

Vatican will no longer rubber stamp Italian laws before adopting them

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 2, 2009 1:59 AM CST

(Newser) – The Vatican is getting a divorce from Italian law. The Pope has decreed his city-state within Rome will no longer automatically endorse Italian legislation, but will scrutinize bills for conflicts with Roman Catholic doctrine before adopting them. It's the first time the Vatican has distanced itself from Italy's laws—and treaties—since it became an independent state in 1929. The Vatican recently refused to approve a United Nations declaration decriminalizing homosexuality.

Italian laws are too numerous, too confusing and too often conflict with Catholic doctrine on issues such as civil unions, divorce, living wills and euthanasia, a Vatican lawyer said recently.  An Italian minister has conceded that Italian laws are often difficult to understand. The government is currently culling thousands of obsolete laws from its books.

Pope Benedict XVI has decreed a historic split from Italy by announcing the Vatican will no longer automatically endorse Italian law.
Pope Benedict XVI has decreed a historic split from Italy by announcing the Vatican will no longer automatically endorse Italian law.   (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Vatican City, an independent sovereign state, will no longer automatically endorse Italian law in an historic shift.
Vatican City, an independent sovereign state, will no longer automatically endorse Italian law in an historic shift.   (Getty Images)
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates a New Year service at the Vatican. He has decreed a historic split from Italy by announcing the Vatican will no longer automatically endorse Italian law.
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates a New Year service at the Vatican. He has decreed a historic split from Italy by announcing the Vatican will no longer automatically endorse Italian law.   (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Michael_CT
Jan 2, 2009 5:02 AM CST
totally. they will end up being a 'quaint' little tourist attraction. almost like a village trapped in time - and gorgeous art and architecture.
maevealleine
Jan 2, 2009 4:15 AM CST
The Catholic Church is slowly imploding. Archaic and oppressive, the modern world is losing its need for this type of worship.
alienvv
Jan 1, 2009 9:13 PM CST
Thank You Catholic Church. Somebody has to stand up for what millions believe in. Demoralization of today's society is not a matter of freedom or modernity- it is an out of control agenda destroying humanity slowly and surely. The values are twisted and our children are more and more exposed to perverts and sexual predators. Better stand alone with your principles than succumb to a false sense of freedom and liberation. There is no democracy without principles.

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