Italian bishops condemn ruling on gay marriage abroad

(see related) (ANSA) - Rome, April 10 - 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".