Spanish
opposition challenges same-sex marriage

A Spanish opposition leader said Monday that his party will file a legal appeal against the government's recently passed law legalizing same-sex marriage. Angel Acebes, secretary-general of the Popular Party, parliament's main opposition bloc, said his party would challenge the law in court, arguing it is unconstitutional.

Spain, where Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, on June 30 became the world's third country to legalize same-sex marriage, following the Netherlands and Belgium. Canada has since become the fourth. "The Popular Party has no doubts--and never has had any, as we've made clear--as to the unconstitutionality of this law that the government has promoted," Acebes said. "We have instructed our legal services and lawyers to formulate an appeal."

A majority of political parties and--according to opinion surveys--most Spaniards back the law. The Catholic Church and the conservative Popular Party have fiercely opposed it. (AP)