CALL TO ACTION FROM ILGA AND ARCIGAY

World protest against child abuse in front of all Vatican embassies
or main catholic churches on Saturday, April 24
Prosecute abuses firmly. Full support for victims.

On April 13 the number two in the Vatican hierarchy, the Pope’s Secretary
of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, claimed that there is a link between
homosexuality and paedophilia.
The LGBT movement worldwide has risen up against this false, despicable and
anti-scientific statement from the Vatican, which is trying to deflect
attention from priests’ sex crimes by blaming LGBT people.
While they are trying to hide the truth about the abuses perpetrated
against innocent children, by making absurd parallels between homosexuality
and paedophilia, ILGA and the Italian LGBT movement have launched an appeal
to all citizens and associations all over the world to join a worldwide
protest against child abuse and support for victims in front of the Vatican
embassies or the main Catholic churches on Wednesday, April 21.
Turning the paedophilia issue into a matter of sexual orientation, as the
Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone did, can only lead to failing
to address the serious allegations coming from around the world. The point
is not the sexual orientation of paedophiles, but to prosecute firmly those
responsible for such abuses, especially if they have an educational or
spiritual role.
The Catholic Church must answer to the courts and the world public opinion
for the serious cover-up occurred worldwide. This is our call, to all women
and men of goodwill, of any religion, who cannot be silent in front of
these abuses against innocent children.

  Take Action Now
Contact your local lgbt association and organise a protest in front of the
Vatican embassy the main catholic church of your city.
List of the Vatican embassies all over the world: http://www.catholic-
hierarchy.org/country/xdip.html
   References
Vatican comments:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/latinamerica/6955641.html
Gay groups responses: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8618878.stm
ILGA Press release: http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/mnE6fHv1Za
   Let us know
1) Send us an email to let us know where and when you will hold the protest.
2) After the protest be sure to send us a photo or a video.
Mail please to:  renato@ilga.org  and international@arcigay.it