Renzi defends civil-unions confidence (2)

(see related) (ANSA) - Rome, May 11 - Premier Matteo Renzi on Wednesday defended his government's decision to put a bill regulating civil unions, including same-sex ones, to a confidence vote in the Lower House. He said the confidence vote to speed up the bill's passage was needed "because it was unacceptable to have any more delays after years of failed attempts". The civil unions bill 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 partners' pension.
    It will fill a legislative vacuum, as Italy is the only western European country not to have either legalised gay marriage or recognised civil unions between same-sex couples.
    The confidence vote is set to take place at 14:00 and the bill is expected to be definitively approved by the end of the day. Many opposition groups expressed outrage at the decision to put an ethical issue like this to a confidence vote and on Tuesday Nunzio Galantino, the secretary of Italian bishops conference CEI, said it was a "defeat for everyone".
    Justice Minister Andrea Orlando told the Catholic Church on Wednesday that the rights granted in the soon-to-be-passed bill were long overdue. "I respect the CEI but I believe that decision was necessary and a little tardy with respect to how society has developed," Orlando said. On Facebook, Renzi said that Wednesday was: "a day of celebration for many. For those who finally feel recognised. For those who, after years, are being given back rights that are so civil that they need no other adjective".
    The bill was stripped of the controversial stepchild adoption provision that would have enabled gays to adopt their partner's children.