Pope Benedict denounces US gay marriage lobby

Pope Benedict XVI waded deep into US campaign politics, urging visiting US bishops to beef up their teaching about the evils of premarital sex and cohabitation, and denouncing what he called the “powerful” gay marriage lobby in America.

As debate over health care coverage for birth control rages in the US, Benedict said there was an urgent need for Catholics in America to discover the value of chastity — an essential element of Christian teaching that he said had been subject to unjust “ridicule”.

Benedict has long championed traditional marriage and fidelity but his strong comments to visiting US bishops took on particular significance given the culture wars in the US.