NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      NEW YORK (CWNews.com) - A World AIDS Day event scheduled for December 1 was canceled on Monday after New York City officials protested the presence of a 35-foot Christmas tree decorated with condoms near Central Park.

      The event, which would have included a benefit concert in addition to the "Tree of Life," was sponsored by Levi Strauss & Co. The Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights had protested the event and threatened a national boycott against the clothing manufacturer.

      Mayor Rudolph Giuliani applauded the decision by the event organizers to cancel the event after pressure from city officials. "I think Christmas trees have a certain symbolic importance ... to a lot of people. I think what they were suggesting would probably be inconsistent with that," Giuliani said. He added, "I think it is one of the most idiotic ideas I have ever heard of."