Polish official
called out over comments on abortion, homosexuality

Poland's prime minister said Tuesday in Warsaw he had patched up differences with his education minister, who sharply criticized abortion and homosexuality. Roman Giertych, head of the ultraconservative League of Polish Families, called abortion "a crime legalized by many parliaments" and "a new form of barbarism" during a meeting last week of European Union education ministers in Germany, the daily Dziennik reported.

He also said, "One must limit homosexual propaganda so that children won't have an improper view of family," the Rzeczpospolita daily reported.

Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski had criticized Giertych's remarks, stressing that they do not represent the Polish government's stance. "We talked and cleared up the issue," Kaczynski said after his meeting with Giertych. "I treat it as a closed issue."

Kaczynski's Law and Justice Party leads a coalition government that counts on support from the League of Polish Families and another smaller party, the farm-based Self-Defense. (AP)