In Italy, a 2-day referendum is being held today and tomorrow on proposed amendments to Italy's restrictive law on assisted procreation. The BBC reports today that Italian bishops, with the backing of Pope Benedict XVI, are encouraging Catholics to boycott the vote on moral grounds. Under the referendum ground rules, at least 50% of Italy's voters must cast a ballot for the vote to be effective. Leading Catholic politicians, including Italy's President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, have defied the bishops' call and have already voted. Current law in Italy prohibits sperm or egg donations. It bans scientific research on embryos and embryo screening for birth defects. It also permits only three embryos to be created each time for in vitro fertilization, and requires that all three be implanted at the same time.
UPDATE: The Vatican was successful in its boycott campaign. The referendum failed after only 26% of the electorate turned out, according to the June 14 New York Times.
