Activists from France's Force Ouvriere group distributed condoms to thousands of young people attending the religious-oriented World Youth Days August 22 in Paris.

Pope John Paul II attended some of the events and celebrated a large open-air mass August 24 to close the "youthfest."

The Catholic Church bans condom use (along with masturbation, oral sex, anal sex and frottage) because it believes sex acts must be open to the possibility of procreation. Only penile-vaginal sex between a husband and wife is approved.

ONTARIO MAYOR BLAMES BIAS ON HER FAITH

London, Ontario, Mayor Dianne Haskett instituted a policy banning city proclamations related to abortion, homosexuality, heterosexuality or celibacy because of her religious convictions, she testified before an Ontario Human Rights Commission tribunal August 21.

Haskett wrote the policy in 1995 after she received word that the Homophile Association of London Ontario (HALO) would be seeking a gay-pride proclamation.

Appearing to endorse abortion or homosexuality would be "turning my back on God and I can't do that," a tearful Haskett told the tribunal. "The day I turn my back on God is the day I lose my authority as the mayor of London."

In a similar case in 1995, the commission fined Hamilton, Ontario, Mayor Bob Morrow $5,000 (US$3,600) -- to be paid out of his own pocket. A ruling in Haskett's case is expected shortly.

HOMOSEXUALS ARE ADOPTING CHINESE CHILDREN

American lesbians -- and some gay men -- are a big part of the rush to adopt Chinese baby girls, reports Hong Kong's Sunday Morning Post.

More than 2,900 girls were adopted by Americans in 1996 and this year's total will exceed 3,300. The process costs about $15,000, of which $3,000 goes to the orphanage.

Most of the girls were abandoned by parents who wanted the one child they are allowed under China's population-control policies to be a boy.

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