Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb 25, 2010 / 17:29 pm
The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, released a statement this week reaffirming his opposition to a judge's decision to allow same-sex marriage. The ruling, the cardinal pointed out, contradicts Argentinean law which defines marriage as a civil entity between one man and one woman.
The cardinal strongly criticized the decision of Judge Elena Liberatori in favor of a gay couple who filed a lawsuit for permission to marry. Judge Liberatori ruled that the civil registrar must give the same-sex couple a time slot for their “wedding.”
The mayor of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri, indicated that he would not appeal the judge’s decision.
In his statement, Cardinal Bergoglio made note of the fact that the ruling allowing marriage between persons of the same sex is contrary to the law in Argentina, which states that marriage must be between a man and a woman.
The cardinal concluded by explaining that the executive branch of the city government in Buenos Aires is the guarantor of legality there, and therefore the mayor of Buenos Aires has the duty to appeal the ruling.