Smart Pastor

In the passive-aggressive protest of the day, I offer the Gay Nativity in Italy.

Two deputies with Italy’s small but vocal Radical Party caused an uproar among legislators in this predominantly Catholic country on Wednesday when they placed dolls representing two gay couples in Parliament’s scene.

The gesture by deputies Bruno Mellano and Donatella Porretti was intended as a show of support for a law that would give unmarried couples, including gays, some of the same rights as married couples. However, it prompted swift and stern condemnation from shocked legislators on all sides.

“Vulgar and unacceptable,” said a statement by women deputies with the rightist, opposition

Pro-Vatican politician Rosy Bindi, who is Family Policy minister in the center-left government, which includes the Radical Party, called the move “a useless provocation against the nativity of the Chamber of Deputies that hurts us as Christians and as citizens of this country,” in comments carried by the ANSA agency.

Nativity scenes are the traditional focal point of the Italian Christmas, with families working for days on elaborate settings which, along with the main figures, often include village scenes, artistic lighting and even fountains with running water. (Source and the rest of the story)

Kind of makes the Christmas programs at the schools with only Santa being mentioned look kind of tame, huh?