Gays Hold 'Kiss-In' to Protest Pope

Pope Benedict strongly defended traditional families and the rights of the unborn today, attacking Spanish laws that allow gay marriage, fast-track divorce, and easier abortions as he dedicated Barcelona's iconic basilica, the Sagrada Familia. Families, the pope argued, are built on the "indissoluble love of a man and a woman," who should receive special benefits from the government.

It was the second time in as many days that Benedict had criticized the policies of Spain's Socialist government. As he headed to the basilica, about 200 gays and lesbians staged a 'kiss-in' to protest his visit. Later, several hundred women marched to protest their second-class status in the church and the Vatican's opposition to birth control. But in contrast, some 250,000 people came out to cheer the pope and watch the basilica's dedication. (More Pope Benedict XVI stories.)