Gay rights protest held near Vatican

VATICAN CITY About 200 people, including some Italian politicians, gathered just outside Vatican City's borders Saturday evening to protest the church's opposition to initiatives to decriminalize homosexuality in all countries.

The Vatican's envoy to the United Nations recently said that the Holy See opposes a proposed U.N. declaration to decriminalize homosexuality.

The Vatican says unjust forms of discrimination must be avoided.

But it is worried that any U.N. resolution against discrimination on gender could pressure countries to recognize same-sex marriages.

The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual activity is sinful.