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Equal marriage and gay adoption are under the spotlight in France after the French Catholic Church revived the tradition of a specific ‘Prayer for France’ and included a line highlighting the church’s opposition to gay marriage. The prayer, which was was read out across all Catholic Churches in France on Wednesday, said that children should: “cease being objects of adult desires and conflicts, and fully benefit from the love of a father and mother.”
The move is seen by many gay rights campaigners as a direct response to President Hollande’s commitment to allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt children.
Michael Bouvar, one of the leaders of gay rights group SOS Homophobie, attacked the church’s move. “The message sent out by the church is a mask for discrimination and homophobia,” he told AFPTV.
Opinion polls show that almost two-thirds of people in France support gay marriage, including 45% of practicing Catholics.
