Pope backs Slovakian ban on gay marriage and adoption
“I greet the pilgrims from Slovakia and, through them, I wish to express my appreciation to the entire Slovak church, encouraging everyone to continue their efforts in defense of the family, the vital cell of society.”
–Pope Francis, approving a Slovakian referendum which would seek to ban equal marriage and same-sex adoption rights during a speech in Rome, Buzzfeed reports. The Eastern European nation will ask voters on Saturday whether marriage should be between a man and a woman, whether same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt, and whether parents can lawfully withdraw their children from sex education classes.
The first question won’t impact Slovakian law if voters support it — Slovakia’s constitution already defines marriage as between one man and one woman after an amendment was approved last year. The Catholic Church maintains a strong presence in Slovakia, with over 60 percent of the population identifying as Roman Catholic in 2011.
It’s also yet another anti-gay stance Pope Francis has taken, despite many claiming him to be a friendlier face of the Catholic Church than past papacies.
Image Credit: Korean Culture and Information Service
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