Lisbon, Portugal, Jan 11, 2010 / 17:04 pm
Despite opposition from the Bishops’ Conference of Portugal as well as from a large portion of the country, Portugal’s Parliament passed a law last Friday making same-sex unions equal to marriage.
Europa Press reported that the bill, sponsored by the Portuguese government, was approved largely through the efforts of left-wing lawmakers despite opposition from numerous representatives.
Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo of Lisbon said, “The problem is not homosexuality,” but rather “what is at stake is the nature of marriage,” understood to be the union of one man and one woman.
“What is at stake is not a religious issue but rather a cultural one,” the cardinal said.