EUROPE/SPAIN - Family movements welcome appeal against unconstitutional law to allow same sex ‘marriage’. “we have never seen such a strong and coordinated family movement with this social and political impact” says Eduardo Hertfelder president of Spain’s Family Policy Institute

Madrid (Fides Service) - Numerous family institutions and movements have welcomed the announcement that the Spanish Popular Party PP intends to appeal against the law which gives same sex unions the status of marriage and allows homosexual couples to adopt a child. At a press conference yesterday PP secretary general Angelo Acebes said the party never doubted the unconstitutional nature of the law and had instructed its legal office to make the appeal.
Eduardo Hertfelder President of the family policy institute IPF said the appeal is an act of political coherence which has many arguements and juridical reports in its favour. “With regard to law so regressive and unjust towards the family and children - Hertfelder said - of which, according to reports by various juridical bodies, the General Council of Judicial Power, the Council of State and the Royal Academy of Law, many points are unconstitutional, an appeal was urgent. With this action the PP shows it’s sense of responsibility”.
Ignacio Arsuaga, President of HazteOir platform welcomed the decision and said the appeal will go la ahead, “if the magistrates act with indipendence of criteria and juridical rigour. The family is central because it is the most important institution for all society and is over and above any sort of extremism or ideology. What we see is the start of a revolution to protect the family and it will put the family at the centre of social life” said Arsuaga. Benigno Blanco, vice president of the Spanish Family Forum said “this appeal will allow the Court to re-establish constitutional protection for marriage”.
Eduardo Hertfelder said that from the juridical point of view the appeal should succeed since the arguments in favour are many, “however there may be pressure from some political interests”. “The Family movement calls on the PP not to stop at the juridical aspect but to assume greater commitment and include in its programme derogation of Zapatero’s anti-family law and support for the popular legislative initiative to be discussed by parliament in November”. Hertfelder said he is very confident: “Only a year ago we thought an appeal was impossible but today the situation is Spain is completely different. A strong, coordinated family movement is exerting strong social and political pressure. Our political leaders realise they cannot govern and ignore this movement”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 20/9/2005, righe 32 parole 433)