
By Advocate.com Editors
Originally published on Advocate.com November 07 2010 2:20 PM ET
An estimated 200 gays and lesbians staged a protest with a five-minute-long "kiss-in" in Barcelona as Pope Benedict XVI visited the city to defend the Catholic Church's family values, reports Sky News.
The kiss-in took place as the popemobile drove past a crowd estimated at tens of thousands who had gathered in front of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia church. The pontiff attacked Spanish laws that allow same-sex marriage, quick divorces, and legal abortions as he dedicated the iconic basilica.
"We are here to demonstrate against the pope's visit and call for a change in the mentality of the Catholic institution, which still opposes our right to different ways of loving," said protester Sergi Diaz.
Pope Benedict called for Europe as a whole to rediscover Christian teachings and apply them to everyday life, and continued to criticize the policies of Spain's socialist government.
See additional photos on the following pages.


Links:
[1] http://www.advocate.com/
[2] http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Pope-Benedict-XVI-Defends-Family-Values-At-Sagrada-Familia-Barcelona-As-Gay-Protesters-Have-Kiss-In/Article/201010115796757?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_4&lid=ARTICLE_15796757_Pope_Benedict_XVI_Defends_Family_Values_At_Sagrada_Familia,_Barcelona_As_Gay_Protesters_Have_Kiss-In