Rome opposes gay festival

Rome - Officials in Rome have withdrawn official backing for a World Gay Pride 2000 festival opposed by the Vatican and right-wing political groups. An official in the city government informed the group which is organising the event in July that the city's official sponsorship and financing had been withdrawn. Organisers said the controversial event would go ahead as planned. The Vatican and senior Italian Catholic churchmen have asked that the event be postponed or moved to another city so that it did not conflict with the Catholic Church's Holy Year celebrations.