Italy's Renzi rejects Church interference in gay civil unions debate

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi looks on during a joint news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi at the end of a meeting at Chigi Palace in Rome, Italy February 10, 2016. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi rejected on Friday the Roman Catholic Church's interference in a parliamentary debate on legislation that offers homosexual couples legal recognition and limited adoption rights.

Renzi spoke a day after the head of the Italian bishops' conference, Angelo Bagnasco, urged the upper house Senate to allow secret balloting when it votes on the bill, arguing this would allow lawmakers to follow their conscience.