Lisbon, Portugal, May 18, 2010 / 14:28 pm
Portuguese bishops, joined by the country's Pro-Life Federation, denounced their president's decision to legalize same-sex “marriage” on Monday, calling the move a “step backward” and an “attack on the traditional family.”
A bill aimed at legalizing same-sex “marriages” was passed by the Portuguese parliament in February with the support of the left-wing parties, which are in the majority. President Anibal Cavaco Silva had until May 17 to decide whether to sign the bill into law or exercise his veto power. Politicians opposed to the measure had called for a nationwide referendum on the matter.
"Given that fact,” President Cavaco Silva said on Monday, “I feel I should not contribute to a pointless extension of this debate, which would only serve to deepen the divisions between the Portuguese and divert the attention of politicians away from the grave problems affecting us.”
The president, who is a self-identified Catholic, said on Monday that he was putting aside his “personal convictions” and approving the legislation, making Portugal the sixth country in Europe to allow same-sex unions.