Mass gay walk-out

Hundreds of Dutch activists have walked out of a Mass in protest at a Catholic policy of denying communion to practising homosexuals.

The church, in 's-Hertogenbosch, had already decided not to serve communion, so the protesters left, shouting and singing.

There have been protests since a priest in a nearby town last month refused communion to a gay man.

In 2001 the Netherlands became the first country to introduce gay marriage.