This short but touching video is a promo for a major world conference in Rome next week reaffirming the beauty and wisdom of traditional marriage. The growing movement for same-sex marriage has not escaped the attention of the Vatican. One of its responses is Humanum, an international, interreligious gathering to support and reinvigorate marriage and family and social life.
The "colloquium" will bring together representatives from 14 religious traditions and 23 countries -- persuasive evidence that it is not just Christians who oppose the redefinition of marriage. The November 17-19 gathering will conclude with a joint statement on marriage. The speakers represent both Sunni and Shi’ite Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, and Judaism as well as the Mormon church, various Protestant denominations and the Catholic Church.
Some powerful media personalities will address the colloquium. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks is the former chief rabbi of the UK and a philosopher with 16 honorary doctorates. Rick Warren, senior pastor at Saddleback Church in California, is the author of the best-selling book The Purpose-Driven Life. He also gave the invocation at President Barack Obama’s 2008 inauguration. And, of course, Pope Francis will be there to put in his two cents’ worth. 
More videos coming. Watch this space.