"I Ain't Seen This Many Eye-Talians Since The Grand Opening Of Luigi's Pasta Fazool And Hair Grease Emporium"
~ Vir Speluncae Catholicus

Thousands Rally In Rome Over Unmarried Couples Law

ROME (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of Italians rallied at a Rome church square on Saturday to protest against a proposed law that would give greater rights to unmarried couples, including gays and lesbians. The draft legislation, which requires parliamentary approval, has divided Italy's ruling coalition, angered the powerful Roman Catholic church and stirred passionate debate.

Waving banners and dancing to tambourines and trumpets, more than 500,000 people poured into the square outside Rome's St. John in Lateran cathedral to support traditional family values based on marriage between a man and a woman. A large cardboard wedding cake with a bride and groom on top stood next to the stage, while nuns, parents and children chanted "Long live the family".

The rally's organisers -- a consortium of largely Catholic groups -- handed out millions of flyers and plastered lampposts and walls with posters in a publicity blitz before the event that ensured a strong turnout.

Not far away at Piazza Navona, hundreds gathered at a counter-demonstration to support rights for gay couples, egged on by bemused tourists. Supporters sang along to popular music, waved Communist flags and held banners like "Family Day - No thanks, Family Gay" and "Benedict XVI ... Century", referring to Pope Benedict, who has exhorted Catholic lawmakers to oppose gay marriage.

Golly gee, I wonder why the American media hasn't picked up on this story? Hmmm....