Posted on 08/02/2003 5:54:49 AM PDT by NYer
Date: 2003-08-01
Worldwide Geography of Laws Recognizing Homosexual Unions
A Tendency That Started in Scandinavia
ROME, AUGUST 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The recent document published by the Vatican concerning homosexual unions responds to laws approved on this matter in countries around the world or of draft laws currently under study.
The following is a summary of such laws as found in countries throughout the world.
--Scandinavia: Denmark was the first Nordic country (1989) which allowed the registration of the civil union of two persons of the same sex. Norway (1993), Sweden (1994), Iceland (1996), and Finland (2002) then adopted this decision. Homosexual couples have the same rights as married heterosexual couples, but they cannot adopt a child or take recourse to artificial insemination, with the exception of Sweden, where adoptions have been possible since 2002.
--France: Since October of 1999, according to the law regulating civil unions (PACS), homosexual couples benefit from fiscal (joint tax returns, rights of inheritance), and social (work permits, housing) dispositions just like married couples.
--Canada: Homosexual couples are recognized since April of 2000. A draft law on homosexual "matrimony" is currently being debated.
--Germany: Since August of 2001, a "contract of common life" gives similar rights to homosexual couples as those of matrimony, although it does not grant the fiscal regime proper to married heterosexual couples nor the possibility to adopt children.
Belgium: Since June of 2003, the law authorizes homosexual "matrimony" with the same rights as heterosexual matrimony, with the exception of adoption.
--Croatia: Since July 2003, homosexual couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples who live in free union.
--Great Britain: A "civil union" draft for England and Wales was published by the government on June 30. This new juridical statute would give homosexual couples the rights of the heterosexual. It must be submitted to Parliament before the end of the year.
--Italy: Since 1998, the cities of Pisa and Florence have opened a Registry of homosexual unions.
--Switzerland: The cantons of Zurich and Geneva have adopted a "civil pact of solidarity."
--Spain: The autonomies of the Basque Nation, Navarre, Andalucia, and Catalonia have adopted laws on "unions of persons of the same sex."
--United States: The state of Vermont recognizes the civil union of homosexual couples. The state of New Jersey (December of 1997), and the city of San Francisco authorize the joint adoption of a child by a homosexual couple.
Who'd have guessed ... it gets mighty cold and awfully dark up there in winter.
1CO 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
RO 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. [25] They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. RO 1:26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. [27] In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
We do that here with welfare....
Owl_Eagle
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"
True, but you can't say that on television.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.