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| 'Pro-family' groups in Rome rally | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| "Pro-family" groups are holding a rally in the Italian capital, Rome, to protest against legislation giving more rights to homosexual couples. | |
| Organisers of the "Family Day" expect at least 100,000 to attend the rally, backed by the Roman Catholic Church. | Organisers of the "Family Day" expect at least 100,000 to attend the rally, backed by the Roman Catholic Church. |
| The proposed law would allow all unmarried couples greater rights in areas such as inheritance, but stops short of legalizing gay marriage. | The proposed law would allow all unmarried couples greater rights in areas such as inheritance, but stops short of legalizing gay marriage. |
| The divisive issue is causing problems for Prime Minister Romano Prodi. | The divisive issue is causing problems for Prime Minister Romano Prodi. |
| A counter-demonstration supporting the new legislation is also planned in Rome. | A counter-demonstration supporting the new legislation is also planned in Rome. |
| There will be Catholics and Communists within Mr Prodi's coalition standing on opposing sides, magnifying the same divides that brought down his government in February, says the BBC's Christian Fraser. | There will be Catholics and Communists within Mr Prodi's coalition standing on opposing sides, magnifying the same divides that brought down his government in February, says the BBC's Christian Fraser. |
| The demonstration has the backing of the Vatican and Italy's Catholic bishops, although neither is involved in organising of the protest. | The demonstration has the backing of the Vatican and Italy's Catholic bishops, although neither is involved in organising of the protest. |
| "Family belongs to believers and non-believers alike," said Gaetano Quagliariello, a centre-right senator. "Family has to do with culture and civilisation." | "Family belongs to believers and non-believers alike," said Gaetano Quagliariello, a centre-right senator. "Family has to do with culture and civilisation." |
| But Franco Grillini, president of Italy's main gay rights group, Arcigay, said the country was "scared of diversity". | But Franco Grillini, president of Italy's main gay rights group, Arcigay, said the country was "scared of diversity". |
| Yet Mr Grillini said he welcomed the Family Day rally. | Yet Mr Grillini said he welcomed the Family Day rally. |
| "It will be a big protest against us, and that is the best advertisement we could ever have." | "It will be a big protest against us, and that is the best advertisement we could ever have." |
| Missing out | Missing out |
| About 500,000 unmarried Italian couples are without shared rights or benefits. | About 500,000 unmarried Italian couples are without shared rights or benefits. |
| They miss out on social benefits, property or inheritance, a situation that is now at odds with many countries in Europe. | They miss out on social benefits, property or inheritance, a situation that is now at odds with many countries in Europe. |
| When Prime Minister Romano Prodi came to power last year he promised his supporters that the government would bring in new laws to protect cohabiting couples. | When Prime Minister Romano Prodi came to power last year he promised his supporters that the government would bring in new laws to protect cohabiting couples. |
| But with only a razor-thin majority in the Senate, Mr Prodi needs the full support of all sides of his coalition, our correspondent says. | But with only a razor-thin majority in the Senate, Mr Prodi needs the full support of all sides of his coalition, our correspondent says. |
| Recent polls showed that most Catholics in Italy are in favour of changes to the legislation despite Church opposition. | Recent polls showed that most Catholics in Italy are in favour of changes to the legislation despite Church opposition. |