(see related)
The powerful Italian Bishops
Conference (CEI) on Thursday said a ruling by an Italian court
recognizing same-sex marriages contracted abroad "raises serious
questions".
A statement said the bishops recognized "marriage as the
union between a man and a woman," and anything else was
"dangerous" and "jumping the gun".
On Wednesday a court in Grosseto took the historic step of
recognising a same-sex marriage contracted overseas, authorising
two men to have their union recorded in the local civil
registry.
The judge ruled that the Italian civil code "contains no
reference to sex in relation to the requisites" for marriage and
that there is "no impediment to the registration of a marriage
contracted abroad".
With this decision, said the bishops, "one of the
fundamental pillars of the institution of marriage is likely to
be swept away, one that is rooted in our cultural tradition, and
is recognized and guaranteed in our constitution".
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