San Salvador, El Salvador, Apr 28, 2009 / 17:45 pm
Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar Alas of El Salvador recalled this week that the legislative term in that country ends on April 30, and he urged lawmakers to ratify an amendment to the constitution in order to prevent homosexual unions from being made equal to marriage.
The archbishop expressed his concern that an agreement has not been reached “for the constitutional protection of marriage.”
The amendment, approved in April of 2006, needs to be ratified by a majority or 56 out of the 84 members of Congress. Passage will require the support of leftist lawmakers.
Archbishop Escobar Alas said leftist lawmakers have sent the Church a draft that includes “substantial changes” to the laws governing co-habitating partners.
“We vehemently ask that the constitutional amendment be ratified,” the archbishop said, reminding lawmakers they only have “a few hours left to do something that will make the people happy.”
The Salvadoran Congress is planning to meet in session this week before the new legislative year begins on May 1.