The government's civil unions
bill goes to the Senate floor on Wednesday, a meeting of caucus
whips decided Tuesday.
The bill would give same-sex couples many of the same
rights and responsibilities as straight married couples,
including the right for one spouse in a civil union to adopt the
other spouse's children as well as the right to inherit a
deceased spouse's pension and property.
Stepchild adoption is a thorny issue for conservative and
Catholic lawmakers who oppose gay parenting rights on religious
grounds.
Premier Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party (PD) said earlier
in the day it will allow its lawmakers to vote their conscience
on the bill, in particular regarding the issue of "stepchild
adoption", said Senator Stefano Lepri, a member of the Catholic
wing of the centre-left group.
Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, who leads the New Center
Right (NCD) party, a junior member of the ruling coalition along
with has said he would wage a "loyal" battle against aspects of
Renzi's bill.
"Yes to the recognition of individual property and
inheritance rights, no to adoptions," he said.
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