Renzi sets sights on civil unions bill

(ANSA) - Rome, October 13 - Conservatives and progressives within the ruling coalition girded for battle Tuesday night ahead of Senate debate on the government's civil unions bill on Wednesday.
    As it stands, the bill provides "full recognition of same-sex couples via a new juridical institution, called the civil union" according to its rapporteur, Senator Monica Cirinna' from Premier Matteo Renzi's center-left Democratic Party (PD).
    It would give same-sex couples many of the same rights and responsibilities as straight married couples, including the right to adopt their spouse's children - known as stepchild adoption - and for widows to receive their deceased partners' pensions and inherit their property.
    It also lays duties such as that of mutual assistance and of contributing to common needs.
    Other laws, regulations, and collective bargaining contracts that refer to heterosexual marriage "will be applicable in the same way to the parties in a civil union".
    "There can be no turning back the clock on the recognition of social rights," Cirinna' has warned.
    However, the traditionally Catholic center right, as well as Catholic elements within the center-left are not happy with the bill because it recognizes the rights of gays in committed relationships to be parents. This, they argue, will inevitably usher in the legalization of surrogate motherhood, which is illegal in Italy and which the Catholic Church condemns as a sin.
    The 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, 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.
    In July, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Italy for failing to provide legal "recognition and protection" for same-sex couples, and said it must remedy the situation by changing its laws.
    The European Parliament in March called on EU member States that have not already done so, to recognise civil unions and same-sex marriage as a civil and human right.
    In February, Italy's highest appeals court rejected same-sex marriage, saying there was nothing in the Constitution that requires the government to extend marriage rights to gays.
    However, the Cassation Court added then that homosexuals have the right to a "protective" law that would ensure same-sex couples have the same rights as unmarried Italian couples.