We won’t officiate at gay weddings, warn Spanish mayors

A WEEK after the lower house of Spain’s parliament approved a bill permitting gay marriage, several conservative mayors warned they would not officiate at such weddings, and a cardinal told officials to heed their consciences.

Following the lower house’s approval on April 21, the legislation goes to the Senate, where the governing Socialists have ample support to vote it into law.

Roman Catholic Bishop Juan Antonio Reig Pla called for mayors to rebel against the legislation. Barcelona’s Cardinal Ricard Maria Carles pointed to the Nazis’ Auschwitz concentration camp as an example of what could happen when people fail to follow their consciences.

“Those that worked in Auschwitz weren’t delinquents but rather people who were forced to, or believed they had to, obey first the laws of the Nazi government rather than their conscience,” Cardinal Carles said when asked if Catholic mayors should obey the new law.

Lluis Fernando Caldentey, mayor of the north-western town of Pontons, said a homosexual was “a retarded person who is born with a physical or mental defect”.

The remark triggered protests from gay groups and politicians from all parties. The Popular Party yesterday said it had suspended Mr Caldentey.