France Could Pass Bill Legalizing Gay Marriage by October
Reports are coming out of France that lawmakers in the country could pass legislation that would legalize gay marriage by as early as October and would make France the ninth European country to enact such laws.
French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault revealed during a speech to Socialist Party members on Saturday that lawmakers plan to put forward legislation in October that would allow same-sex couples to marry.
"In October, we will send a bill to the National Assembly and the Senate to allow same-sex couples to marry," said Ayrault, according to reports from UPI. "It would also allow them to form families and adopt children."
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President Francois Hollande declared his support for both same-sex marriage and adoptions for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) couples during his campaign, according to reports from Le Monde.
While there is limited support for gay marriage in France, the large Catholic presence the country is urging followers to do what is right. They have been highlighting the importance of traditional family values.
The French bishops' conference had also asked priests to read a prayer recently that asked the people of France show the importance of "the love of a father and a mother" during the Aug. 15 Assumption holiday, according to the AP.
Currently, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden allow same-sex marriage.
But France is not the only country currently debating legalizing same sex marriage. Officials in Scotland are meeting strong resistance from the Scottish Roman Catholic Church over plans to have Scotland become the first nation in the U.K. to legalize gay marriage.
"The church's teaching on marriage is unequivocal: It is uniquely the union of a man and a woman and it is wrong that governments, politicians or parliaments should seek to alter or destroy that reality," read a letter published by the Scottish Roman Catholic Church.
