From Voice of America -- Pope Benedict XVI spoke out against abortion, euthanasia and homosexual marriages during an audience Thursday with delegates from the center-right European Popular Party. The delegates are attending the party's two-day congress in Rome, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of its foundation.Pope Benedict addressed lawmakers from the center-right European Popular Party at the Vatican Thursday, and told them the Roman Catholic position on issues including abortion, euthanasia and homosexual marriages was not negotiable.
The pope said society should be shaped to defend human life, from conception to its natural end, should promote traditional marriage as the basis of the family, and safeguard the right of parents to educate their children.
With a general election in Italy just 10 days away, some politicians accused the pope and the Church of interfering in Italian politics.
Daniele Capezzone [shown above] of the leftist Rose In the Fist party said he did not expect Italians to follow Church dictates.
"I think Italian Catholics will not follow them, because Italian Catholics are secular, liberal and have always known how to distinguish between their own opinion and the fact that state laws must be secular on divorce, abortion, on everything," he said.
