Chief Rabbi asks Pope Benedict to stop Jerusalem gay parade
(07 July 2006) : Israel’s Chief Sephardic leader, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, sent a letter
to Pope Benedict XVI, asking for his help to stop the World Gay Pride parade scheduled
for next month in Jerusalem, which “violates its honour and humiliates its greatness”,
reported Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth on Thursday. The paper also reports survey
results that majority of secular and conservative Jews, National Religious, Orthodox,
Arab Muslims and Christians oppose the parade. “We were shocked to hear of plans
to hold the world Pride Parade in the Holy City,” Rabbi Amar wrote. “The city which
the entire world looks up to, due to its holiness and glory, is now being attacked
by evil people who wish to violate its honour and humiliate its greatness with deeds
that the Torah despises, as well as all other religions. There is no need to elaborate
about their plans and evil actions that bring humanity's dignity to the ground.” Rabbi
Amar called on the Pope Benedict “to object this terrible phenomenon, in the hope
that the protest of religious leaders will guide lost souls who fool and harm themselves
badly and will deter evil people from corrupting humanity”. In his letter, Rabi Amar
also expressed concerns over the “bad influence” the gay community might exert on
children and teenagers, who could be corrupted.