Pope Francis praises new book which shows that animals engage in homosexuality too

POPE Francis has praised an Italian children's book titled Piccolo Uovo which supports gay rights and points out that other animals also engage in homosexual activities despite it being banned by the mayor of Venice.

 

Piccolo Uovo, which translates to Little Egg, is a controversial book whose cover is adorned with pictures of hippos, kangaroos and penguins that emphasises that there are different family types. In the book, the egg encounters a pair of gay penguins and lesbian rabbits successfully bringing up a family, as well as other family models, including a single parent hippo, a mixed race dog couple and kangaroos that have adopted polar bear cubs.

 

Its publication has prompted a backlash by conservatives who accuse Italian author Francesca Pardi of promoting a pro-homosexuality gender theory. In addition, the book is disapproved by Venice’s new mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who in June banned Piccolo Uovo and about 50 other titles from schools.

 

His decision led more than 250 Italian authors to demand their own books also be removed from the city’s shelves, described as a protest against an appalling gesture of censorship and ignorance. Pope Francis has waded into the crisis by praising the book, emphasising that it promotes the Vatican's policy of inclusivity.

 

Peter Wells, a senior official at the Vatican secretariat of state, said: “His holiness is grateful for the thoughtful gesture and for the feelings which it evoked, hoping for an always more fruitful activity in the service of young generations and the spread of genuine human and Christian values."

 

In June, Ms Pradi sent a parcel of children’s books to the pontiff in June. The collection from her publisher, Lo Stampatello, including seven or eight books which deal with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues (LGBT), was accompanied by a heartfelt letter from the author describing the attacks she has come under in recent months.

 

Ms Pradi said: “Many parishes across the country are in this period sullying our name and telling falsehoods about our work which deeply offends us. We have respect for Catholics and a lot of Catholics give back the same respect, so why can’t we have the whole hierarchy of the church behind us?”

 

Not expecting a reply Ms Pradi, said she was surprised to receive the letter from the pope at her Milan home. According to the Vatican, however, the closing blessing of the private letter was addressed to Ms Pardi and not in support of teachings which went against church doctrine on gender theory.

 

Traditionally, the Vatican deems homosexual relationships intrinsically disordered and contrary to natural law, preaching that gay people must live a life of chastity in order to be good Catholics. While such a doctrine has effectively excluded people in same-sex relationships from the church, Pope Francis has adopted a more welcoming approach during his papacy.