Just in case you forgot, Pope Benedict XVI and his Catholic peers don’t approve of gay marriage, even if California does: “The union of love, based on matrimony between a man and a woman, which makes up the family, represents a good for all society that can not be substituted by, confused with, or compared to other types of unions.” [Reuters]

In other Pope-related news, pissed off viewers are calling for Bill Maher’s head after the comedian offered these remarks: “If you have a few hundred followers and you let some of them molest children they call you a ‘cult leader.’ If you have a billion followers they call you ‘pope.” Maher refuses to apologize.[Newsday]

Pope Benedict XVI’s American adventure has come to an end.

The Catholic leader performed his final mass at New York’s Yankee stadium Sunday, during which he briefly addressed the sex abuse scandal, a running theme in his Stateside visit. In a glancing reference to the sexual abuse of children by priests, he said that praying for the kingdom of God “means not losing heart in the face of adversity, resistance and scandal. It means overcoming every separation between faith and life, and countering false gospels of freedom and happiness.” Benedict and his colleagues obviously want to put the scandal behind them, but such an ending most likely won’t come to pass.
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More fun with headlines: “NY police on Pope watch snatch river beaver” [Yahoo!]

From the editor: Why, I wonder, do all the news networks feel compelled to broadcast the Pope’s mass in DC? No offense to the Catholics, but aren’t there more important things in the world…

Pope Benedict XVI reportedly waved in the general direction of gay Catholics. Said Catholics seem to think this means something: “I thought it was a good chance for us to be seen and he obviously saw us and waved at us, so I think we got our message across.” And we’re sure it’s going to make a hell of a difference. [Wash Blade]

Pope Benedict XVI’s been in the States for less than 24-hours and he’s already causing a stink!

His Holiness yesterday said that he feels great “shame” about the Catholic Church’s sex abuse scandals, which have cost the United States’ churches an estimated $2 billion.

While Benny probably thought the statements would help pave the way for a smooth visit, the abused had some rough words for him: He talks about feeling shame for the scandal but it’s a far cry from the shame that victims have had to live with our entire lives,” said Becky Ianni, 50, an abuse victim who joined a vigil in front of St. Dominic’s Catholic Church here.
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You know how some people say reporter Anderson Cooper shouldn’t cover “gay” things because he “may or may not be” a homosexual? Well, should Catholics be allowed to cover Pope Benedict XVI’s “historic” visit to the United States? Catholicism and same-sex loving are both controversial…

Pope Benedict XVI, who arrived in the States today, claims he’s “deeply ashamed” over the Catholic church sex abuse scandals: It is a great suffering for the Church in the United States and for the Church in general and for me personally that this could happen.

It is difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betray in this way their mission …to these children.

I am deeply ashamed and we will do what is possible so this cannot happen again in the future. Contrary to what you may think, Benedict was not struck down by a bolt of lightening. Miracles do happen!

Pope Benedict will be taking a trip to the United State this April. And you can be sure he’s fanning his conservative fan club’s flames: Pope Benedict, ahead of his first trip to the United States, praised Americans on Friday who oppose gay marriage and abortion and called for global nuclear disarmament.
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He said Americans’ appreciation of religion’s role in public life is “reflected in the efforts of so many of your fellow citizens and government leaders to ensure legal protection for God’s gift of life from conception to natural death.”

Benedict also spoke of safeguarding the family and “the institution of marriage, acknowledged as a stable union between a man and a woman.” Oh, … Continued…

Pope Benedict XVI used his New Year’s message to spread some old, exclusionary dogma: Tens of thousands gathered in Madrid and Vatican City for Catholic rallies promoting traditional families on Sunday.

Pope Benedict XVI addressed the crowd in St Peter’s Square in his last Angelus prayer of 2007 which was broadcast on a giant TV screen for throngs who had come to Madrid’s Plaza de Colon to hear him.
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In Spanish the Pope said that the family is “based on the unbreakable union of man and woman and represents the privileged environment where human life is welcomed and protected from the beginning to its natural end.”

The remarks were greeted with a massive cheer in … Continued…

Pope Benedict XVI will not be making an appearance at Milan-based Palazzo della Ragione’s Art and Homosexuality exhibit.
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An estimated 1.5 million party people lived it up at this year’s Europride in Madrid. The revelers toasted Spain’s government for its inclusion, including the government’s 2005 passage of gay marriage and historic trans rights laws.
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Transgender MP Vladimir Luxuria led approximately 100,000 men, women and trans folk through Rome this weekend to celebrate gay pride.
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Today’s a very special day, reader. Well, yes, it’s Thursday, which is sort of special, but more importantly, it’s International Day Against Homophobia.

Seventeen years ago today, the World Health Organization officially removed homosexuality from its charter of diseases, neuroses and various bugs. Though WHO doesn’t think you’re sick, plenty of other people do.

International gays and gay supporters will take some time today to shake their fists in a push to decriminalize homosexuality, combat homophobia and vent their frustrations.

There are so many homophobes to choose from, so how do you know which way to wag the finger? Easy, you check out Human Rights Watch’s Hall of Shame.
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