Spain Approves Gay Marriage Despite Church Anger

[UCLA Dem]

<snip>

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's parliament gave initial approval to a law legalizing gay marriage on Thursday in a move likely to rekindle conflict with a Catholic Church that has just elected a new conservative pope.

A packed public gallery erupted in cheers and applause as the speaker announced approval of the Socialist government's proposal, making Spain the third European country to legalize gay marriage.

"It's unfair to be a second-class citizen because of love," Socialist legislator Carmen Monton said. "Spain joins the vanguard of those defending full equality for gays and lesbians."

<snip>

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=586&e=5&u=/nm/20050421/wl_nm/spain_marriage_dc


Yea Spain!!!

[Zenlitened]

1. Awesome!

So THAT'S what life is like in the 21st century! :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Frances]

2. The Catholic Church got along fine with a dictator

but it isn't comfortable with a democracy.

How sad.

[Rainscents]

3. ;-)

Boy, is this going to piss off new poooop(pope)???:applause:

[Cha]

4. Espana continues to

surprise me!

[Kerrytravelers]

5. I love how churches have taken over this issue...

WHEN IT'S NOT ABOUT CHURCH!!!! No one is going to force a church to do anything. The marrige is to make it legal. When I was married, we had to get a STATE lisence, not a CHURCH lisence. Our taxes go to the STATE, not the CHURCH. We were married in our church because we wanted to be, but if we had been married anyplace else, our marraige would still be legal.

I swear, every day ther newspapers and the tv have become more and more like Sunday School!


Ok, sorry for the shouting, I feel much better now.

[HockeyMom]

7. Never ceases to amaze me

how some people cannot distinguish between a civil contract (marriage license) and a church ceremony. Then we have a our Mensa President calling it the SACRAMENT of marriage. lol I am sure every non Christian and atheist will be very happy to know they are receiving a Christian sacrament at the country clerk's office.

[theHandpuppet]

13. No apologies necessary!

What you said bears repeating over and over again. This issue is not about the church or any church being forced by law to conduct religious marriage ceremonies for gays. It's about the legal definition of marriage, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails.

[flordehinojos]

6. Que Viva España, Olé!

[arcos]

8. Zapatero rocks!

[whirlygigspin]

9. Que viva Espana

http://supermidir.coolfreepages.com/Pasodobles_-_Que_viva_Espana.htm

[ruggerson]

10. This is a world movement

And the only people standing in its way are the extremists who control the Vatican and who make life miserable for many, many good Catholics and the extremists on our shores in the guise of the "religious right."

Face it, fundamentalists. You've lost. Time and goodness and decency and morality and common sense and the history of the world are ALL on the side of full equality for gay and lesbian people.

And billions of heterosexuals get it. So sad that the minority who doesn't is so damn loud and shrill.

[varun]

11. Even Brazil...

...a predominantly Catholic country (and Argentina too) have more progressive laws thatn USA when it comes to gas and lesbians.

What's Italy's position wrt gay marriage?

[Andromeda]

12. Will it stand?

This is remarkable news coming so soon after a new pope was selected. This is sure going to get Pope Benedict's knickers in a knot.

This is really going to shake up the Catholic Church. It's the ultimate act of defiance. I can't wait to see what happens next.

[xchrom]

14. oh we'll probably hear more than we ever wanted to

i'm guessing that at his papal ordination will be the first we hear.

then the endless, on and on, over and over, droning and moaning, keening and wailing, threatening and lecturing will happen til we all pass out.

then unmarried men in beautiful ball gowns will tell us all what to do every minute of every day -- and we will all be joyously happy from now on.

[arwalden]

15. Why Must The Church Meddle? Don't They Have Enough Problems Of Their Own??

They have an awfully tarnished image... cover-ups, inaction, blatant bigotry, questionable choices, a new pope with a questionable past.

[Horse with no Name]

16. Gotta love this

I have yet to hear a good answer as to why gay people getting married affects anyone any more than heterosexuals getting married.
I am appalled that this country--who proclaims to be a democracy with equal rights for all--still lives in Biblical times regarding this issue.
I can almost (but I don't agree with it) understand those of the Jewish faith not recognizing a gay marriage because they don't believe Jesus as a savior and do not recognize the New Testament. Christian's, by virtue of their religion, accept the New Testament as the gospel. There isn't any excuse for them not to remember the teachings of grace that their religion is founded upon.
That being said--I am ashamed of our country not being the one in this headline, but am grateful that other countries do "get it".

[Arugula Latte]

17. Why does the rest of the world seem capable of progress

and this country has been hijacked by thugs/idiots who want want to take us back to the Dark Ages?

Plus, I love it when the people stick it to the Church (any church!). :thumbsup: Common sense trumps lame dogma. Viva Espana!

[gratuitous]

18. What a concept

Spain running its own affairs without checking to make sure that Mr. Ratzinger approves. It's almost like they're governing themselves!