Vatican Secretary of
State Pietro Parolin on Thursday denied any conflict between
Vatican and Italian authorities amid Italian government efforts
to pass a bill that would legalise civil partnerships.
Parolin said relations at a meeting with Italian officials
on Wednesday had been 'cordial', rejecting media reports that
claimed otherwise.
The civil unions bill, now before the Senate, will extend
to committed gay couples some of the same rights and protections
currently enjoyed by heterosexual married couples, such as the
right to receive a deceased partner's pension.
On Wednesday, Premier Matteo Renzi's ruling Democratic
Party (PD) agreed to scrap a provision that would have enabled
gays and lesbians to adopt their partners' biological children,
as well as a measure on obligation to be faithful for a civil
union to be considered such.
Parolin said on Thursday that the removal of the so-called
"step-child adoption" provision seemed appropriate.
"The fundamental point is that civil unions are not equated
in any way with marriage, that is that they are two completely
distinct disciplines," he said.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
