France is positioned to ban the words “mother” and “father” from legal documents under the country’s plan to legalize homosexual “marriage” and give equal adoption rights to both traditional couples and same-sex partners. Under the proposal, which is being aggressively pushed forward by, among others, French president Francois Hollande, the term “parents” would replace “mother” and “father” in an identical marriage ceremony that will be used for both traditional and homosexual weddings.
According to the UK’s Christian Institute, a draft law set to be presented to Hollande’s cabinet for approval in October will define marriage as the “union of two people, of different or the same gender.”
France’s Catholic Church has been vocal in its opposition to homosexual “marriage,” with Cardinal Philippe Barbarin warning of the dire consequences that would result. “Gay marriage would herald a complete breakdown in society,” Barbarin told Radio Free Christianity. “This could have innumerable consequences. Afterward they will want to create couples with three or four members. And after that, perhaps one day the taboo of incest will fall.”
The country’s Catholic Church has published a prayer that includes the admonition: “Children should not be subjected to adults’ desires and conflicts, so they can fully benefit from the love of their mother and father.”
In addition, Pope Benedict called 30 French bishops to Italy to encourage them in the Catholic Church’s fight to protect marriage, telling the prelates, “We have there a true challenge to take on.”
Representing the views of those wishing to force same-sex “marriage” on the country, France’s Justice Minister Christiane Taubira challenged: “Who is to say that a heterosexual couple will bring a child up better than a homosexual couple, that they will guarantee the best conditions for the child’s development?” Taubira claimed that “what is certain is that the interest of the child is a major preoccupation for the government.”
French bishop Dominique Rey has called for the government to allow the people of France to decide on the country’s definition of marriage. “A referendum must be held to allow a real debate and to make sure the government is not in the grip of the lobbies,” he said. “A majority of the population agrees with the traditional view of marriage.”
