Int'l Coalition Opposes Gay Marriage in Mexico City

By Ethan Cole, Christian Post Reporter Sunday, February 28, 2010

Pro-family leaders from 35 countries came together this past week to oppose same-sex marriage in Mexico City.

In a petition, titled "World Congress of Families Leadership Petition to Save Marriage in Mexico City," they point out that Mexico's constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Signers agree that all social problems begin with the decline of the family and that "children need both a mother and a father." Those raised by two men or two women are "psychologically and socially disadvantaged."

"We are heartened that this broad, international coalition – more than 125 leaders from 35 countries – has come together to defend the family in Mexico, under the auspices of the World Congress of Families," said Larry Jacobs, managing director of the World Congress of Families, in a statement Thursday.

Jacobs said the petition with the list of the signers has been given to Red Familia (the Family Network), the WCF partner in Mexico. Red Familia is leading the protest against same-sex marriage in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, and will present the petition to government leaders.

U.S. signers of the petition include Gary Bauer of American Values, Tom DeLay, former Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representative, Tony Perkins of Family Research Council, Dr. Paige Patterson of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Jerry Newcombe of Coral Ridge Ministries, Don Wildmon of American Family Association and Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America, among others.

Lawmakers in Mexico City approved homosexual marriage and gay adoption in late December with a 39-25 vote. Five Mexican state governors subsequently sued the federal district, Mexico City, for legalizing gay marriage saying the law is unconstitutional and will require their state governments to recognize such marriages despite their state's opposition to them.

But the Mexican Supreme Court rejected the lawsuits of three of the states. A ruling on the other two cases is still pending.

The Attorney General's office of Mexico has filed its own complaint against the law arguing that it violates the constitution. The suit is still pending.

"In the future, wherever judges or bureaucrats attempt to force homosexual marriage on a people, the international pro-family movement will be engaged," vowed WCF's Jacobs. "A threat to the natural family anywhere is a threat to the family everywhere."

The law is set to take effect March 4.

The World Congress of Families is an international network of pro-family organizations, experts and concerned people from more than 60 countries that seek to restore the natural family as the fundamental social unit of civil society.