Catholic Portugal set to legalize gay marriage

[Usbek_de_Perse]

Catholic Portugal set to legalize gay marriage

By Anne Le Coz , Agence France-PresseJanuary 6, 2010 9:03 AM
StoryPhotos ( 1 )

Another traditionally conservative Catholic country Mexico adopted to extend gay couples full marriage rights on December 21, 2009. A rainbow ribbon sits on the desk of delegates at the city’s assembly in Mexico City.Photograph by: Daniel Aguilar, ReutersLISBON - Catholic Portugal, traditionally one of Europe’s most socially conservative countries, is expected to approve the legalization of gay marriage on Friday with a minimum of fuss.

With the governing Socialists and other left-wing parties enjoying a strong majority, the new law is likely to sail through the first reading debate and gain final approval before a visit by Pope Benedict XVI, due in Portugal in May.

In contrast to Spain, where the lead-up to the legalization of gay marriage in 2005 brought hundreds of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets, the bill in Portugal has provoked only muted opposition even from the right.

While normally vocal on the role of marriage and the family in society, the Catholic Church has refused to mobilize on a subject which, according to Lisbon’s Cardinal Patriarch Jose Policarpo, is “parliament’s responsibility”.
“I think the Portuguese people have learnt one of the fundamental tenets of democracy: respect for the rights of the individual,” Miguel Vale de Almeida, Portugal’s first openly-gay lawmaker who was elected in September, told AFP.

Vale de Almeida, who is the Socialists’ pointman on the legislation, said there is now a political majority in favour of gay marriage and that it is “too simplistic to link Catholicism and conservatism.”

According to poll conducted late last year by the Eurosondagem institute, while a strong majority (68.4 per cent) of Portuguese are opposed to adoptions by same-sex couples, they are more evenly divided when it comes to gay marriage with 49.5 per cent against, with 45.5 per cent in favour.

On Tuesday, campaigners handed a petition with more than 90,000 signatures to demand a referendum on the subject into parliament.

But having had its fingers burnt by two referendums which preceded the legalization of abortion in 2007, the government has ruled out consulting with the public as the measure was part of its manifesto in last year’s election.

Prime Minister Jose Socrates’ Socialists may have lost their majority in the September 27 election, but still command the support of other left-wing parties in parliament who should guarantee that the gay marriage bill is passed.

While opposed to the concept of same-sex “marriages”, the centre-right opposition Social Democrat party says it is favour of a civil partnership that would give gays and lesbians the same rights as heterosexual couples minus adoptions.

Deputies are also expected on Friday to vote two other bills submitted by the Green party, the Left Bloc and others which would grant gay and lesbian couples the right to adopt children.

If the gay marriage proposals do pass through parliament, they will the have to go through a parliamentary commission before coming back for the final approval.

According to media reports, both the government and the Catholic Church want the gay marriage issue to be resolved before the visit of the pope, scheduled for May 11-14.

© Copyright (c) AFP

Please note I added the emphasis in the above report. My question, given the USCCB’s strong support for laws that limit marriage to be between a man and a woman, what the h#$% is going on in Portugal? What is troubling, especially, is that they want the matter resolved before the Pope visits in May. I mean really, folks, the US is not by any stretch a Catholic country, but Portugal, at least historically is, and the majority of its citizens self identify as Catholic.

This makes me wonder if there really is one church. What flies in Europe doesn’t fly in the US, and we are not talking about incidentals.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Catholic Portugal set to legalize gay marriage

By Anne Le Coz , Agence France-PresseJanuary 6, 2010 9:03 AM
StoryPhotos ( 1 )

 

[ralphinal]

I think that the issue is one of the action, or inaction, of the Bishops. Portugal has a bishops conference, too.

We cannot be too hard on them, though. Our bishops have sat on their hands on major issues as well.

He is right. It is up to Parliament. Where he is wrong, however, is that the Church has a duty to help instruct those who do not know the Truth. By failing to educate the populace, they end up in this situation

 

[cheese_sdc]

Catholic Portugal set to legalize gay marriage

:clapping:

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I think you’re right, ralphinal, about the inaction of bishops, unfortunately. The Philippines, my wife’s home country, is a victim of moral relativism and cultural decay like that of the United States and the bishops are sitting on their thumbs. They’re very loud and proudly against abortion (thanks be to God!!) and contraception as well as divorce and yet the culture is full, I mean FULL of cohabitation and out-of-wedlock children. The gay culture in the Philippines is out and proud and LOUD! Watch Philippines media and you see gays all over the place and it’s treated as cute and cuddly. If I had a peso for every neighbor, friend, family or extended family member, aquaintance, celebrity or individual I know of in the Philippines that is cohabitating or committing adultery or involved in one of these activities, I’d be loaded. It’s an epidemic. When I go to the Philippines, they think me a prude I think because I’m so outraged that the Phils are almost more liberal on sexual matters than the States! Mexico and Portugal are obviously going down hill like we are.

I think that the issue is one of the action, or inaction, of the Bishops. Portugal has a bishops conference, too.

We cannot be too hard on them, though. Our bishops have sat on their hands on major issues as well.

He is right. It is up to Parliament. Where he is wrong, however, is that the Church has a duty to help instruct those who do not know the Truth. By failing to educate the populace, they end up in this situation

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

I think you’re right, ralphinal, about the inaction of bishops, unfortunately. The Philippines, my wife’s home country, is a victim of moral relativism and cultural decay like that of the United States and the bishops are sitting on their thumbs. They’re very loud and proudly against abortion (thanks be to God!!) and contraception as well as divorce and yet the culture is full, I mean FULL of cohabitation and out-of-wedlock children. The gay culture in the Philippines is out and proud and LOUD! Watch Philippines media and you see gays all over the place and it’s treated as cute and cuddly. If I had a peso for every neighbor, friend, family or extended family member, aquaintance, celebrity or individual I know of in the Philippines that is cohabitating or committing adultery or involved in one of these activities, I’d be loaded. It’s an epidemic. When I go to the Philippines, they think me a prude I think because I’m so outraged that the Phils are almost more liberal on sexual matters than the States! Mexico and Portugal are obviously going down hill like we are.

If the situation is actually worse in the Philippines than here, it is truly dire! On top of that, they have Islamist radicals who must see the morals of the rest of the country and feel quite justified in their campaigns of terror. A real powder-keg, I suspect.

 

[averagejoe84]

I am heavily involved in european socialist politics, and where i’m from most people on the left tend to be catholic. I understand issues around moral relativism but I have a real liberal streak and there are some areas of social policy where I just don’t think the government need be involved. This is one. I have no issue with it. We’ve had civil partnerships in the UK for a good few years now and it has done nothing to endanger traditional marriage.

Portugal is also leading the way on liberal drug control having decriminalised the use of all drugs, leading to far less crime and far fewer addicts… Go Portugal!

 

[4Squarebaby]

If the situation is actually worse in the Philippines than here, it is truly dire! On top of that, they have Islamist radicals who must see the morals of the rest of the country and feel quite justified in their campaigns of terror. A real powder-keg, I suspect.

Unlike other Jihadist who see theirselves as super Sunni/Shia the Abu Sayyef and MILF of the Philippines are more about political power and their own “homeland”. Philippine law already has Muslim exclusions built into it.

From what I can see Muslims are just as likely to laugh at the gay clowns, they tend to be in clown like roles or an American Idol like judges, get illegal abortions. However I do believe Islam accepts temporary birth control and they are the majority of the few Filipinos who can divorce so there may not be as many people “legally” shacking up and not have to commit adultery/concubinage when they leave their spouse if they want to be with another.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

It can be, you’re right. It’s a country I’ve grown to love a great deal since my wife is pinay (filipina). I’ve spent a lot of time with her family and extended family, had a lot of good times over there. But man, I can’t get over how the lax attitude about shacking up, out of wedlock babies, and casual sex is just accepted. I was talking with my wife’s aunt and uncle about it in San Diego recently on a little trip we took there and they were giving us the lowdown on every single drama-laden shack-up affair that’s going on and they act like it’s no big whoop. I feel like a puritanical snob when we talk about this stuff because it makes me want to puke hearing people taking their sexuality so lightly and like it’s a recreational activity. I’m sad to see the Church has buried her head in the sand on this. They brag about not having divorce in the Phils and yet everyone is separated and liviing with someone new so it amounts to illegal unofficial divorce de facto anyway? The world has one foot in hell, what can I say…this stuff drives me nuts!

The Muslims are not so much a social disease but a political and financial headache. They are more likely to kidnap, cut off heads, terrorize, blow up, and harrass than they are to shack up or be gay. I’m not a fan of Boy George types or Osama clones!

If the situation is actually worse in the Philippines than here, it is truly dire! On top of that, they have Islamist radicals who must see the morals of the rest of the country and feel quite justified in their campaigns of terror. A real powder-keg, I suspect.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Sounds like you’re a big fan of this guy:



Your “liberal streak” is something I’d try to eliminate …and moral relativism isn’t a problem with communists and socialists. They eliminate the need for morality by having big government do the thinking for you…no quandries, just be a drone…

Catholics who are into socialism have turned their backs on the truth of their faith and don’t represent the Catholic Church in any way. Civil partnerships and gay “marriage” do indeed demean the very nature of what marriage is and they degrade the concept in people’s minds of what constitutes matrimony. And it will eventually lead to laws against “intolerance” that will demand that churches and religious institutions ‘marry’ gays or else…because being against the gay lifestyle to socialist liberals is akin to racial hatred and hardcore bigotry. Your liberal views on marriage will eventually step on the views of traditionalists and those who uphold the view of marriage that has stood the test of time for more than 4,000 years on this planet. Even the gay-tolerant classical cultures of Rome and Greece had the good sense to know that gay partners a marriage does not make…

Socialism is actually on the down-trend in Europe, thanks be to God. But sadly it’s on the rise in the U.S.

And yeah, the whole decriminalization and legalisation of drugs sounds great. I love the thought of a bus driver picking my kids up from school high on marijuana or heroin! The thought of my kids’ teachers coming to school with a hangover and their eyes dialated from dope sounds perfect…a little methamphetamine never hurt anyone either…it just ages you thirty years and eats away at your flesh. I think having prostitutes and dope pushers around the town really is pointing us all into a wonderful utopia!

I am heavily involved in european socialist politics, and where i’m from most people on the left tend to be catholic. I understand issues around moral relativism but I have a real liberal streak and there are some areas of social policy where I just don’t think the government need be involved. This is one. I have no issue with it. We’ve had civil partnerships in the UK for a good few years now and it has done nothing to endanger traditional marriage.

Portugal is also leading the way on liberal drug control having decriminalised the use of all drugs, leading to far less crime and far fewer addicts… Go Portugal!