2013-01-04 15:49:50

French bishops back plans for rally against same-sex marriage bill


January 04, 2013 - France's Catholic bishops are backing plans for a national demonstration against same-sex marriage legislation, which is expected to be approved by lawmakers later this month. "I won't be participating -- not because I don't agree with the demonstration, but because I don't think I need to march when I have to make something known to the government and president," Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois president of the bishops' conference, told France's Le Figaro daily. "But I've invited Catholics and everyone else with something to say on this matter to demonstrate," he added. "We're not under a dictatorship." A coalition of 30 French family groups, "Manif Pour Tous" (Demo For All), plans a Jan. 13 Paris rally against a bill allowing same-sex marriage, introduced Nov. 7 by the Socialist government of President Francois Hollande under the slogan, "Marriage for All." In a Jan. 2 report, the Catholic La Croix daily said 4.5 million leaflets had been printed for the Jan. 13 rally, converging on the capital's Champ de Mars , and special trains would be provided by organizers. The Paris archdiocesan website said a "prayer vigil for marriage and the family" would be held at the city's St. Nicholas Church before the event, during which Catholic groups would be providing help.








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