Posted on 12/01/2013 1:51:10 PM PST by annalex
ZAGREB: A majority of Croatians voted in a referendum Sunday to ban gay marriages in what is a major victory for the Catholic Church-backed conservatives in the European Union´s newest nation.
The state electoral commission, citing near complete results, said 65 percent of those who voted answered "yes" to the referendum question: "Do you agree that marriage is matrimony between a man and a woman?" About 34 percent voted against.
The result meant that Croatia´s constitution will be amended to ban same-sex marriage.
The vote has deeply divided Croatia. Liberal groups have said the referendum´s question infringes on basic human rights.
The Church-backed groups have gathered 750,000 signatures in its support.Referendum results signal that right-wing and conservative forces have been gaining strength in Croatia amid the deepening economic crisis and widespread joblessness.
The country of 4.4 million, which became EU´s 28th member in July, has taken steps to improve gay rights, but issues such as same-sex marriage remain highly sensitive in the staunchly Catholic nation.
The referendum was called by the "In the Name of the Family" conservative group after Croatia´s center-left government drafted a law to let gay couples register as "life partners."
The Catholic Church leaders have urged their followers to vote "yes" in the referendum. Nearly 90 percent of Croatians are Roman Catholics."Marriage is the only union enabling procreation," Croatian Cardinal Josip Bozanic said in his message to the followers.
"This is the key difference between a marriage and other unions."Croatia´s liberal president, Ivo Josipovic, said he voted against amending the constitution.
Josipovic said the referendum result must be respected, but added the government is preparing a law to allow some rights to gays and lesbians living together."The referendum result must not be the reason for new divisions," Josipovic said.
Hurray!
Support Croatia.
Buy a Springfield XDm!
Why does it not belong to a sidebar?
“The state electoral commission, citing near complete results, said 65 percent of those who voted answered “yes” to the referendum question: “Do you agree that marriage is matrimony between a man and a woman?”
In other words, the majority of Croatians agreed with Jesus Christ’s teaching in Matthew 19:4-6
“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning, made them male and female, And said, For this cause, shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave unto his wife, and they which were two, shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. Let not man therefore put asunder that, which God hath coupled together.”
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2019:4-6&version=GNV
The former Soviet bloc nations are showing more sanity than the West.
That is not surprising. Likewise during the Civil War in Russia the areas that once tasted the Soviet system became staunch anti-Bolshevik and gave plenty volunteers to the White Army; while those not familiar with it did not consider the reds a big danger, and easily succumbed to them.
Indeed. Often, the harshest critics of leftism taken to its logical conclusions are the ones who actually lived under the results of it.
"Di-vided" means separated into two roughly equal portions. Two thirds -- twice as many -- Croatians decided to oppose perversion as voted in its favor. That's less a division than a mandate.
That is a typical left-speak. Only the left can have a mandate to govern; the right is always deeply divisive.
Really?
They must have forgotten to create a tyrannical Federal Judiciary who can overturn any vote of the people at a moments notice.
Josipovic has some work to do.
Shhhh! Don’t give him any ideas.
Well, I hope their legitimate vote doesn’t get declared “unconstitutional.” Which is what happened to us.
The leftists will just have them keep voting till they get the vote result they want. In Europe they do this with EU membership as well.
bump
Mybe the new EUSSR politburo will stretch its muscles and just decree it
Good for Croatia. Just wait for the EUSSR to lower its mighty fist and accuse them of war crimes.
Thank Go that there is at least one country with common sense.
Unfortunately, they just did: Croatia joined EU this July.
I think EU will have them vote and vote again till they get it "right" -- as many here anticipated.
Part time. They also voted to join EU.
and once it passes through hook or crook, it will be “settled law” that can never be changed
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