French Socialists Call for 'Assisted Procreation' for Homosexuals
With France on the verge of legalizing gay marriage, some politicians are calling for language to be added into legislation that would address and provide for "assisted procreation."
A high ranking member of the French socialist party has said that homosexual couples have the right to have children through medically assisted means.
"On the issue of rights and freedoms, [we must] ensure that we set an example for the future, regarding the law on marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, there is also the right for medically assisted human procreation. This is the position of the party," Harlem Désir, the interim chair of the French Socialist Party, said in a statement.
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Plans calling for a vote on the issue of legalizing gay marriage were set to take place in October, but after a large outcry from French citizens, the date was moved to Nov. 7.
While there is limited support for gay marriage in France, the large Catholic presence the country is urging followers to do what is right. They have recently been highlighting the importance of traditional family values.
The French bishops' conference had asked priests to read a prayer that encouraged the people of France to show the importance of "the love of a father and a mother."
Currently, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden allow same-sex marriage.
But France is not the only country currently debating legalizing same sex marriage. Officials in Scotland are meeting strong resistance from the Scottish Roman Catholic Church over plans to have Scotland become the first nation in the U.K. to legalize gay marriage.
"The church's teaching on marriage is unequivocal: It is uniquely the union of a man and a woman and it is wrong that governments, politicians or parliaments should seek to alter or destroy that reality," read a letter published by the Scottish Roman Catholic Church.
