(Vatican Radio) Opponents of a new French law legalizing marriage for same sex couples
are vowing to continue their campaign, one day after France became the 14th
country to pass the controversial legislation. A bill, which also allows for adoption
by same-sex couples, passed by 321 votes to 225 in the French parliament yesterday,
amid heated debate and protests both in and outside the National Assembly building. French
President François Hollande is expected to sign the bill once it has cleared any constitutional
challenges. But a broad coalition of opponents, including the Catholic Church, says
it will continue contesting the legislation and is planning further demonstrations. Tugdual
Derville is a spokesman for the opposition movement and a leader of the Alliance Vita,
pro-life organization. Listen: He says this movement
marks the birth of a real reawakening in France of those who are concerned that the
most vulnerable people, children, the aged, the handicapped, remain a priority for
economic and social policies….today, he says, we see English speaking companies offering
to provide same sex couples in France with children at a cost of $100.000 – this
is deeply shocking to us. It is time, Derville says, to open a serious discussion
about what we call human ecology, aimed at recognizing, protecting and transmitting
to future generations the truth about our human procreation, our birth from a man
and a woman. Beyond the public protests, the movement will continue to promote serious
reflection and the development of a culture at the service of all human beings.