Spain gets 'gay marriage'.Madrid--On Thursday, 21 April, 2005, Spain became the third European country (after the Netherlands and Belgium) to legalise Verb 1. legalise - make legal; "Marijuana should be legalized" decriminalise, decriminalize, legalize, legitimate, legitimatise, legitimatize, legitimise, legitimize same-sex "marriage." The lower house of the Spanish parliament approved the government bill giving such unions the same status as traditional marriages, including the adoption of children, and pension and inheritance rights. The bill requires a final reading and Senate approval, but these are considered formalities. Vatican reaction was quite pointed, statements being issued by two Spanish cardinals of the Roman Curia Roman Curia Group of Vatican bureaus that assist the pope in exercising his jurisdiction over the Roman Catholic Church. The work of the Curia is traditionally associated with the College of Cardinals. . Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, speaking at a dinner marking the inauguration INAUGURATION. This word was applied by the Romans to the ceremony of dedicating some temple, or raising some man to the priesthood, after the augurs had been consulted. It was afterwards applied to the installation (q.v. of Pope Benedict XVI  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. and attended by three Spanish cabinet ministers, stated, "One cannot go against natural law and personal morality." A second Spanish Cardinal, Julian Herranz, also criticized the law on the same occasion. A more detailed criticism was delivered by Colombian Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council Pontifical Council may refer to:
It is the most famous Italian national newspaper, and among the oldest, founded on Sunday, March 5 1876 by Eugenio Torelli Viollier. newspaper, he said, "What is being done in Spain is the destruction of the family, brick by brick." A "law as profoundly iniquitous as this does not oblige anyone." He urged municipal officials asked to perform homosexual marriages to refuse on conscientious grounds, even if it meant losing their jobs. "All Christians," he said, "must be prepared to pay the highest price, including the loss of a job." Spain, once one of the most Catholic countries in Europe, has suffered a sea-change recently, with increased affluence. There has been a rapid growth of secularism sec·u·lar·ism n. 1. Religious skepticism or indifference. 2. The view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education. , particularly among young people. The Socialist government of Jose Luis Zapatero has used its current popularity to introduce policies reflecting this change, the majority of which run counter to the teachings of the Catholic Church (files from Zenit, National Post, Hamilton Spectator). Several of Spain's mayors have since confirmed that, even though the law allows them to marry homosexuals, they will not exercise this authority. Among these are the mayors of Valladolid, Avila, and Leon (LifeSite News, April 27). |
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