A priest in Argentina has been defrocked after voicing support in
public for gay marriage.
Nicolás Alessio was suspended in 2010 when the
Government's same-sex marriage legislation was being debated.
The
legislation was bitterly opposed by the Church in Argentina, led by the
then Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio who was elected Pope last month.
A statement from Mr Alessio's local archdiocese of Córdoba said the
decision to defrock him was made by the Vatican's Congregation for the
Clergy in February, during the pontificate of Benedict XVI.
"Thirty
years of service to God's people mean nothing," Mr Alessio said in
response. "I had a different opinion from the archbishop [of Córdoba,
Carlos José Ñáñez] and so they have chucked me out."