Lithuania overturns ban on gay pride parade

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Lithuania's first gay pride parade can go ahead as planned on Saturday, an appeals court has ruled.

Earlier this week, a lower court outlawed the parade after the chief prosecutor argued that anti-gay groups could cause violence.

But the appeals court ruled that the state must ensure the right to peaceful assembly.

Correspondents say that homosexuality is seen as taboo by many in Lithuania, a majority Roman Catholic country.

The original ban was criticised by President Dalia Grybauskaite, some European governments, and the international rights watchdog Amnesty International.

Organisers of Saturday's Baltic Pride 2010 march have welcomed the ruling, which is final.

The parade in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, is expected to draw 350 participants and an even larger crowd of opponents, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Some 800 police officers will be on hand to maintain order, and have been instructed to confiscate harmful objects as well as tomatoes and eggs, the Baltic Pride organisers said on their website.

The ruling issued by the top Vilnius appeals court said: "The state has a duty to ensure the right to peaceful assembly, even of people whose opinions are not popular or represent minorities."

Lithuania, an EU member since 2004, has repeatedly been criticised by rights groups for widespread intolerance toward sexual minorities.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8669297.stm

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Correspondents say that homosexuality is seen as taboo by many in Lithuania, a majority Roman Catholic country.

Hmmm. The Roman Catholic Church has protected it's gay pastors for decades. How come homosexuality is a taboo in a majority Roman Catholic country? Is it because there aren't any little boys involved in the gay pride parade?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

It does seem a little strange. Bring back the cigar smoking, whiskey drinking, widow banging pastors of years past.

[rsn 135]

Hmmm. The Roman Catholic Church has protected it's gay pastors for decades. How come homosexuality is a taboo in a majority Roman Catholic country? Is it because there aren't any little boys involved in the gay pride parade?

To be fair, I can understand why a mostly RC country would ban such a parade, not that I agree. Also, I understand why the Catholic church would do its best to cover up the horrible things some priests have done due to their stance on homosexuality. Again, I understand, but I certainly don't agree. I'm not a Catholic myself, although I was raised one. I've talked to some practicing RCs who have told me that they pay no respect to the RC church, that is, the archdiocese, the Vatican, and any other governing body. To them, Catholicism is nothing but their relationship with God, and nothing else really matters. That is, a bunch of morons with funny hats have no bearing on the faith at all. I'm not sure all RCs think this way, but I'd like to think they do - it seems like a reasonable mindset. What I'm trying to say is, I'm not sure it's fair to criticize RCs as a whole. The ruling body is fair game though, in my opinion. Local RC churches don't always see eye-to-eye with the bishops or the pope.

[Danno 1,228]

To be fair, I can understand why a mostly RC country would ban such a parade, not that I agree. Also, I understand why the Catholic church would do its best to cover up the horrible things some priests have done due to their stance on homosexuality. Again, I understand, but I certainly don't agree. I'm not a Catholic myself, although I was raised one. I've talked to some practicing RCs who have told me that they pay no respect to the RC church, that is, the archdiocese, the Vatican, and any other governing body. To them, Catholicism is nothing but their relationship with God, and nothing else really matters. That is, a bunch of morons with funny hats have no bearing on the faith at all. I'm not sure all RCs think this way, but I'd like to think they do - it seems like a reasonable mindset. What I'm trying to say is, I'm not sure it's fair to criticize RCs as a whole. The ruling body is fair game though, in my opinion. Local RC churches don't always see eye-to-eye with the bishops or the pope.

Did you mean to write "have no bearing on THEIR faith"?

Because to suggest -THe morons with the funny hats have no bearing on THE faith is ..well retarded.

It would be like saying; The clowns in Washington have no bearing on our lives or the country.

[rsn 135]

Did you mean to write "have no bearing on THEIR faith"?

Because to suggest -THe morons with the funny hats have no bearing on THE faith is ..well retarded.

It would be like saying; The clowns in Washington have no bearing on our lives or the country.

You obviously missed my entire point Danno. Let's try to see the forest for the trees, ok? If you are Catholic and the Vatican directly affects your relationship with your maker, then I feel sorry for you, and I'm sure others do too (for other reasons though).

[Danno 1,228]

You obviously missed my entire point Danno. Let's try to see the forest for the trees, ok? If you are Catholic and the Vatican directly affects your relationship with your maker, then I feel sorry for you, and I'm sure others do too (for other reasons though).

RSN: That is, a bunch of morons with funny hats have no bearing on the faith at all.

It's your words not mine buddy.

"the faith" is a common phrase for a particular religion, if you believe ROME has no bearing on being Catholic, I think you are quite mistaken.

It seems you were referring to non practicing Catholics and their (ad hoc) faith of which of course Rome would have no more bearing on them than it does me.