Nearly 200,000 in Argentina protest measure that would legalize gay 'marriage'

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jul 14, 2010 / 19:50 pm

An unprecedented 200,000 Argentineans from across the country gathered outside Argentina's capitol building last Friday to defend the family and traditional marriage.  The protesters also expressed opposition to a measure that would legalized same-sex “marriage” and adoption.

Just hours before the Senate was to take up the measure that has already passed the House of Representatives, protesters voiced their support for traditional marriage and the family.

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires joined protestant and evangelical leaders in sending a letter of support that was read during the protest.

“Marriage is an essential institution for our society and constitutes the basic structure upon which it is built,” the leaders said. “It is the fundamental responsibility of our political representatives to protect it and promote it, to legally preserve it as it is, the union between one man and one woman ordered towards mutual help, procreation, the fulfillment and happiness of spouses, the satisfaction of life in its fullness and the raising of children.”

“Common sense needs to be brought back into the debate on marriage,” the leaders wrote.  “Calling things by their name does not amount to discrimination, but rather means distinguishing between different realities,” they added.

The religious leaders also rejected the idea that homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt, noting that children have a fundamental right to have a mother and a father. “We are saddened that thousands of children have no family in our country, and on their behalf, we demand that the State address the true problem of adoption in Argentina.”  They asked that the government assist “by facilitating and responsibly accelerating the adoption process so that thousands of abandoned children and thousands of married couples who wish to provide them a family with love do not have to suffer waiting for years because of a bureaucratic 'Calvary' that leads them to despair.”

The leaders concluded their letter reminding politicians that Argentineans will give their vote to those who “protect marriage between a man and a woman and reject the law on same-sex marriage.”