News
2007-02-03
Mexican bishop
says first same-sex civil union is "a disgrace"
Mexico's first
same-sex civil union has upset a Roman Catholic bishop in
the state where it occurred.
Mexico's first
same-sex civil union has upset a Roman Catholic bishop in
the state where it occurred.
Bishop Alonso
Garza of Piedras Negras, a town in the state of
Coahuila, said Friday that Mexico's first same-sex
civil union—which occurred Wednesday in his
state's capital of Saltillo—was ''a disgrace''
and ''a show.''
Karla Lopez and
Karina Almaguer, both of Matamoros, across from the
border from Brownsville, Texas, became the first gay couple
in Mexico to register a civil union, taking advantage
of a Coahuila state law approved in January.
''This is a
disgrace,'' Garza said, and he lamented that the state had
attracted international attention for ''this kind of
situation.''
Coahuila is the
only one of Mexico's 31 states to recognize such unions,
though a similar measure takes effect in mid March in Mexico
City, which has most of the same powers as a state.
The Coahuila law
provides gay couples with numerous social benefits
similar to those of married couples.
''We have always
said we respect [homosexuals'] way of thinking, but we
are definitely against this show,'' Garza said of the media
frenzy stirred up by the first union.
The conservative
National Action Party of President Felipe Calderon has
joined the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico in strongly
criticizing the laws in Coahuila state and Mexico
City. (AP)
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