ForeverInLoveWithJus

Pope Benedict XVI has responded firmly to the first challenge of his papacy by condemning a Spanish government bill allowing marriage between homosexuals.

The bill, passed by parliament's Socialist-dominated lower house, also allows gay couples to adopt. A senior Vatican official described the bill - which is likely to become law within a few months - as iniquitous.

He said Roman Catholic officials should be prepared to lose their jobs rather than co-operate with the law. The bill would make Spain the first European country to allow homosexual people to marry and adopt children.

Belgium and the Netherlands only allow same-sex marriages. It is also a dramatic step in the rapid secularisation of what was once one of the most devoutly Roman Catholic countries in Europe. The head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council on the Family, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, denounced the legislation as profoundly iniquitous

FantaOrSprite

Good for Spain. That pope needs to realize not everyone is religious OR Catholic.

God forbid some kids who need adopting get placed in a good, loving home rather than an orphanage.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

But Spain is one of the highest population of Catholics, it is VERY similar to Ireland.

CrAZyBeAuTiFuL4

Agreed.

ManSlippers

Apparently not if they let this bill pass.

CrAZyBeAuTiFuL4

But people can still be Catholic and be open-minded and realize that it's rather wrong to deny people of their basic rights

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Yes and I understand that but I am just saying what it may be seen as a big deal.

ManSlippers

Of course it's gonna be a big deal. Anything involving a major world figure and something frowned upon by cult believers

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Hundreds of thousands of protesters have blocked the streets in the centre of Madrid, demonstrating against a proposal to legalise gay marriage and allow gay couples to adopt. Chanting in favour of the family and children's rights, demonstrators waved colourful ballons and flags.

The protest was led by 20 Roman Catholic bishops, conservative opposition leaders and the Spanish Forum for the Family. Ahead of the protest, deputy socialist Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega defended the bill and accused protesters of discrimination, saying their actions meant they wanted the rights they enjoyed to be denied to others.

She said that the new law "does not oblige anyone to do anything they don't want to do". The bill is expected to become law in a matter of weeks after it is voted on next week by the Senate. According to opinion polls, most people in Spain support the bill.

But demonstrators were angry at what they called the degradation of the institution of marriage and the fact that gay couples may adopt.

I think this is so stupid.

YesJess

*stabs eye*