Comments on: Vatican claims sexual orientation is not legally defined

By: Simon Murphy

Simon Murphy — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:52:44 +0000

So homosexuality is a 'cultural concept' according to the catholic cult? I somewhat agree. 200 years ago there was no such thing as a 'gay person'. There was no cultural identity to being gay – simply there were homosexual acts. The idea of a gay person; community; lifestyle or whatever only came into being in the western world after the industrial revolution with the growth of cities. In fact in countries where there is a predominantly rural population there is very little evidence of a gay community. Simply because it is a cultural concept is not reason to legislate against it. Nationality is also a cultural concept. And the vatican should also realise that religion and 'god' are cultural concepts and with their attemptes to legislate against homosexuality they are simply granting legitimacy for those people who want to legislate against religion and its poisonous intentions.

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By: Iris

Iris — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:56:01 +0000

"Cultural concept"? Oh, right. Well, the same could be said of racial identity. When you fill in an ethnic identity form, you choose what YOU consider yourself to be. So it follows then that we should all allow racism, does it, because it's a 'cultural concept'?
I'd also be interested in hearing what the oh-so-learned Pope has to say about people who are intersex. Presumably, he's so clever he can TELL these people what gender they are and correct them if they think something else. Vile.

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By: Vo Dong Cung

Vo Dong Cung — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:14:31 +0000

Roman Catholic "has no definition in international law and is cultural concept"; So get out off UN and take hands off political issues

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By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:09:35 +0000

Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece were the great classical civilisations which we draw upon; homosexuality was accepted as these great thinkers. Homophobia is a concept from the Jewish Old testament, not anything which Christ said. Therefore the Church is wrong but what can we expect from an (ex?) Nazi Homophobe who seems intent on carrying out a crusade against the LGBT Community? He had a go against the muslims but then backed off for obvious reasons. He can't have a go at the Jews c'os they might bomb the vatican! He can't be rascist against balck people because of all those misguided African Catholics so that leaves us and the Romany people(has he upset them yet?)

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By: John

John — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:48:44 +0000

Another nail in their own Vatican coffin! I agree, they have no right to status within the UN, throw them out! NOW! I will gladly help carry the coffin! We should renew our efforts to separate church from state! No religion has a right or claim over my sexuality with their out of date biblical ranting. If you cannot accept the sexuality of human life that has exsisted since year dot, then its time for your faith to fold! The world is tired of being talked down to buy a church that has no compasion, no respect and will never change it homophobic view.

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By: Will

Will — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:03:32 +0000

"the phrases "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" in the statement as they have no definition in international law and are cultural concepts"

Oh, indeed. Not like the definition of paedophilia, that has a fairly clear definition: sexual attack on children by priests that one tries to get covered up by the church.

Bunch of archaic hypocrites.

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By: Del

Del — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:13:41 +0000

Of course – they oppose that too! The Roman Empire should be banned from the UN – it's not a country! It's a church!

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By: Har Davids

Har Davids — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:59:47 +0000

Andrew Quick: burning it to the ground would be a shame. Think of all the lovely stuff they have. And there are a lot of historians who wouldn't mind the opportunity to browse the archives of the Vatican; I know I wouldn't.

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By: Andrew Quick

Andrew Quick — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:19:12 +0000

Burn it to the ground.

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By: Har Davids

Har Davids — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:45:45 +0000

Can't these bigots take some time off to read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? If you're human, you've got the rights, no matter who you want to sleep with. Let them worry about third world countries, where people believe their nonsense about condoms, and AIDS is still rampant.

It's time this bunch loses it's special status at the UN, it never did anything to deserve it anyway.

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