EUROPE/SPAIN - “Resolution on homophobia in Europe represents a serious threat to marriage and family life and social order in Europe": Spanish Bishops’ statement

Tuesday, 16 May 2006

Madrid (Fides Service) - The Catholic Bishops of Spain join other European Bishops’ Conferences expressing concern for a resolution passed by the European Parliament P6-TA (2006) 0018, on January on "homophobia in Europe". The executive committee of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference CEE said the Bishops are united with “those who have already protested against this resolution which undermines the correct functioning of the European Union and the very conscience of its citizens”. On 18 January the Court of Strasbourg approved a non binding document inviting countries of the European Union to revise legislation on this matter and to recognise unions between persons of the same sex in order to avoid discrimination against homosexuals.
The Bishops say “under the pretext of avoiding discrimination against homosexuals” the Resolution launches the idea that “unions between a man and a woman and persons of the same sex must be considered the same”. The Bishops say this “falsifies the truth founded on the nature of man, created male and female”, and therefore the resolution represents “a serious threat to married life and the family and social order in Europe”.
Although the resolution “does not oblige members it can still exert moral pressure on these countries”, because overlooking the principle of subsidiarity, “it imposes on the citizens of the Union a concept of the anthropological truth contrary to the values and principles of our civilisation”. The Spanish Bishops say the resolution’s proposal to educate against homophobia is dangerous because it would mean introducing young people and children to “this deformation of the truth” and they call on the European Parliament in future to “avoid actions which endanger freedom of conscience in the European Union”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 16/5/2006; righe 24, parole 325)


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