Pope to promote
"traditional" families in Spain

Spain is the next stop for Pope Benedict XVI as he continues his campaign in defense of the "traditional" family. Thousands of pilgrims are expected to greet the head of the Roman Catholic Church when he visits the country, where abortion, divorce, and same-sex marriage are legal--and each of which the church denounces, reports the Associated Press. The 79-year-old pope will address an international meeting on family, which will include discussion on same-sex marriage, which the Vatican has recently called the "greatest threat ever." "If we are to encourage the family, help it fulfill its commitments, we must work for social cohesion and, above all, respect its rights which cannot be dissolved by other kinds of unions that seek to replace it," Benedict said in a statement, according to AP. The relationship between Spain and the Vatican has been troubled since the country's Socialist government came into power two years ago. The Vatican claims that Spain is in need of a "new evangelization," reports AP. (The Advocate)