Bogotá, Colombia, May 7, 2013 / 15:02 pm
Officials from the Bishops' Conference of Colombia have urged Catholics to adhere to Church teaching in the face of potential same-sex unions and a movement towards a secular nation.
Father Pedro Mercado, adjunct secretary of the conference, warned that Catholic notaries will not be able to witness same-sex unions, as required by a Colombian Constitutional Court ruling, without committing "a grave act against God." He demanded that the State recognize a right to conscientious objection.
In the absence of congressional legislation enacted by late June, the Colombian Constitutional Court has ruled that gay couples will be able to go before a public notary in order to "constitute a family."
In statements to the Colombian daily El Tiempo, Father Mercado warned that witnessing same-sex unions "would be considered a grave act against God and against society" by public notaries.