Pope says
Canadian same-sex marriage law is "the exclusion of
God"

Pope Benedict XVI lashed out Friday at Canada's laws allowing same-sex marriage and abortion, saying they result from Catholic politicians ignoring the values of their religion. "In the name of 'tolerance,' your country has had to endure the folly of the redefinition of spouse, and in the name of 'freedom of choice,' it is confronted with the daily destruction of unborn children," the pope told a group of bishops visiting the Vatican from Ontario.

Such laws, he said, are the result of "the exclusion of God from the public sphere." He lamented that Catholic politicians yielded to "ephemeral social trends and the spurious demands of opinion polls."

Benedict has made the defense of so-called traditional family values a major goal of his papacy, speaking out often on the issue. During a trip to Spain in July he challenged that country's Socialist government for instituting liberal reforms such as same-sex marriage and fast-track divorce.

Same-sex marriage was recognized by Canada's parliament last year. New Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper has pledged to hold a vote in the House of Commons later this year to determine whether the issue should be revisited. (AP)