The Associated Press reports Cuba's Roman Catholic Church, long repressed under the Fidel Castro regime, is flexing its newly-liberated muscle to protest the communist government's growing support of gay rights: "Respect for the homosexual person, yes," said an editorial in... ...

Cuba's Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday protested the communist government's growing support of gay rights, including a daylong event raising awareness against homophobia and a law allowing sex-change operations. "Respect for the homosexual person, yes," said an editorial in Palabra Nueva, the monthly magazine of the Archdiocese of Havana. "Promotion of homosexuality, no." The editorial signed by magazine director Orlando Marquez referred to activities held May 17 by Cuba's Sex Education Center, which is directed by Mariela Castro, daughter of President Raul Castro. The center also announced this month that the health ministry has approved a law authorizing government-paid ...

“Cuba’s Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday protested the communist government’s growing support of gay rights… ‘Respect for the homosexual person, yes,’ said an editorial in Palabra Nueva, the monthly magazine of the Archdiocese of Havana. ‘Promotion of homosexuality, no.’” The condemnation comes as first daughter Mariela Castro pushes for civil unions and the government has worked toward ending homophobia. [AP] ...

A Roman Catholic Church decision to prohibit a Minneapolis gay pride prayer service has many in the gay community up in arms, leading activists to call the action a troubling and telling sign from the Twin Cities' new archbishop. The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis recently told staff members at St. Joan of Arc Church they could not hold their annual gay pride prayer service planned for Wednesday — an event held for several years in conjunction with the annual Twin Cities Pride Celebration, parishioners said. Instead, the archdiocese suggested a "peace" service with no mention of rights ...