Madrid, Spain, Nov 27, 2012 / 16:02 pm
The bishops of Spain will release a new document on Dec. 17 supporting marriage in the wake of a ruling by the Constitutional Court upholding same-sex unions.
The secretary general of the bishops' conference, Auxiliary Bishop Juan Antonio Martinez Camino of Madrid, will present the document which describes the country as "witnessing the destruction of marriage through legal means."
On Nov. 6, eight of the court's 11 judges voted in favor of a measure legalizing "gay marriage" amid tense opposition from traditional marriage supporters in the country.
"Convinced of the negative consequences that this destruction entails for the common good, we raise our voices in support of marriage and its legal recognition," the bishops said.
"We also note that everyone, from their own place in society, should defend and promote marriage and its appropriate treatment by our laws."
True marriage is between one man and one woman, they said, and is faithful, exclusive and open to life, they noted. "These characteristics of life, so intimately linked together, are inseparable: if one is missing, the others will not be present either."