Deutsche Welle, 18 October 2013
France's
top court has ruled that mayors cannot refuse to carry out same-sex marriages
on the grounds it goes against their religious or moral beliefs. Same-sex
marriage was signed into law in May.
The
Constitutional Council's ruling on Friday followed an appeal by several mayors
who said the same-sex marriage legislation should have allowed municipal
authorities to opt out on the grounds of "freedom of conscience."
However, the court rejected the argument and ruled that the disputed part of
the legislation was constitutional.
In France,
marriages can only be made official by city authorities.
President
Hollande signed the bill into law in May following the Council's dismissal of a
legal challenge, making France the 14th country to legalize same-sex marriage.
The
legislation also legalizes adoption by same-sex partners.
The
same-sex marriage debate has divided France, a mostly Catholic country.
Protests against the bill drew hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who
clashed with police leading up to the passage of the legislation.
hc/ccp (AFP, AP)
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