Beachlover
July 22nd, 2010, 11:44
Go Buenos Aires!
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/wo ... 5892594186 (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/catholic-outcry-as-argentina-approves-same-sex-marriage/story-e6frg6so-1225892594186)
Catholic outcry as Argentina approves same-sex marriage
ARGENTINA has become the first Latin American country to legalise same-sex marriage, following a landmark Senate vote which stirred controversy in the majority Catholic nation.
The law was backed by the centre-left government of President Cristina Kirchner and adopted in a 33-27 vote, with three abstentions, after 15 hours of debate.
тАЬIt's a positive step which defends the right of the minority in Argentina,тАЭ Ms Kirchner said.
The issue raised heated debate in the nation of 40 million, 90 per cent of whom describe themselves as Catholic.
The Catholic Church lashed out at the decision, after having called unsuccessfully for a national referendum on the issue, which drew support from members of opposing political parties.
тАЬIt seriously harms social wellbeing,тАЭ said Archbishop Alfonso Delgado of the western San Juan province.
The secular advisor to Argentina's Bishop's Conference, Guillermo Cartasso, said that the law's approval тАЬbreaks the principle of equality as it claims to treat situations which are obviously not identical in an identical wayтАЭ.
The church also sanctioned clerics who supported the initiative.
Hundreds of people cheered outside the Senate as the bill passed, with some chanting тАЬequality, equality,тАЭ and other tearful couples embracing each other.
As priests and their supporters held images of the Virgin Mary and prayed in the street, some gay and leftist campaigners shouted: тАЬChurch, you garbage. You're a dictatorship.тАЭ
Police had to separate opposing groups who hurled eggs and oranges at each other outside the Senate the previous day.
тАЬArgentina has taken a step forward, but out in the street ... it will take time for hatred and resentment to heal,тАЭ said former president Adolfo Rodriguez Saa.
Ruling party leader Miguel Pichetto called Thursday a тАЬhistoric day,тАЭ while opposition senator Gerardo Morales said Argentine society had changed, and stressed that the bill was aimed at guaranteeing the rights of minorities.
The law alters the legal code to no longer refer to a husband and wife, but rather refer to тАЬthe marrying partiesтАЭ.
Same-sex couples will now have the same rights as heterosexuals regarding adoptions, social security and family issues.
Argentina was the first country in Latin America to give a green light to same-sex marriage nationwide.
It followed the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal and Iceland around the world.
In Latin America, same-sex marriage is allowed only in Mexico City and not the rest of the country. The Mexican capital's tourism minister Thursday offered a free honeymoon to the first gay couple to wed in Argentina.
Civil unions for same-sex couples - seen as legally significant if a step short of same-sex marriage - are allowed in Uruguay, Colombia and Buenos Aires, as well as the northern Mexico state of Coahuila, and the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/wo ... 5892594186 (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/catholic-outcry-as-argentina-approves-same-sex-marriage/story-e6frg6so-1225892594186)
Catholic outcry as Argentina approves same-sex marriage
ARGENTINA has become the first Latin American country to legalise same-sex marriage, following a landmark Senate vote which stirred controversy in the majority Catholic nation.
The law was backed by the centre-left government of President Cristina Kirchner and adopted in a 33-27 vote, with three abstentions, after 15 hours of debate.
тАЬIt's a positive step which defends the right of the minority in Argentina,тАЭ Ms Kirchner said.
The issue raised heated debate in the nation of 40 million, 90 per cent of whom describe themselves as Catholic.
The Catholic Church lashed out at the decision, after having called unsuccessfully for a national referendum on the issue, which drew support from members of opposing political parties.
тАЬIt seriously harms social wellbeing,тАЭ said Archbishop Alfonso Delgado of the western San Juan province.
The secular advisor to Argentina's Bishop's Conference, Guillermo Cartasso, said that the law's approval тАЬbreaks the principle of equality as it claims to treat situations which are obviously not identical in an identical wayтАЭ.
The church also sanctioned clerics who supported the initiative.
Hundreds of people cheered outside the Senate as the bill passed, with some chanting тАЬequality, equality,тАЭ and other tearful couples embracing each other.
As priests and their supporters held images of the Virgin Mary and prayed in the street, some gay and leftist campaigners shouted: тАЬChurch, you garbage. You're a dictatorship.тАЭ
Police had to separate opposing groups who hurled eggs and oranges at each other outside the Senate the previous day.
тАЬArgentina has taken a step forward, but out in the street ... it will take time for hatred and resentment to heal,тАЭ said former president Adolfo Rodriguez Saa.
Ruling party leader Miguel Pichetto called Thursday a тАЬhistoric day,тАЭ while opposition senator Gerardo Morales said Argentine society had changed, and stressed that the bill was aimed at guaranteeing the rights of minorities.
The law alters the legal code to no longer refer to a husband and wife, but rather refer to тАЬthe marrying partiesтАЭ.
Same-sex couples will now have the same rights as heterosexuals regarding adoptions, social security and family issues.
Argentina was the first country in Latin America to give a green light to same-sex marriage nationwide.
It followed the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal and Iceland around the world.
In Latin America, same-sex marriage is allowed only in Mexico City and not the rest of the country. The Mexican capital's tourism minister Thursday offered a free honeymoon to the first gay couple to wed in Argentina.
Civil unions for same-sex couples - seen as legally significant if a step short of same-sex marriage - are allowed in Uruguay, Colombia and Buenos Aires, as well as the northern Mexico state of Coahuila, and the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.