NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      LISBON (CWNews.com) -- For the second time, a representative of the Holy See has issued a public protest against efforts to manipulate a world youth conference, in this case lamenting the fact that the final conference statement omits all mention of the role of fathers.

      Msgr. Stanislaw Rylko, an official of the Pontifical Council for the Laity who is representing the Vatican at the Lisbon conference, said that "despite our best efforts" the conference had neglected to recognize the importance of fathers as heads of families.

      Earlier, the Vatican had joined with pro-life groups to complain that officials of the United Nations were exerting pressure on delegates at the Lisbon conference, looking for approval of statements endorsing "reproductive freedom"-- a term generally used to indicate a legal right to abortion. UN officials were also reportedly pushing for a broader definition of "family," to include unmarried couples and same-sex unions.