Can you believe the most socially-conservative Roman Catholic nation just approved gay marriage?

Yes, it's great news. However Portugal is not as conservative as it used to be, and the Left wing parties have a majority in Parliament, and the Churches and homophobes are taking a beating.

<<Can you believe the most socially-conservative Roman Catholic nation just approved gay marriage? The Parliament in Portugal, possibly the most heavily Roman Catholic nation in the world,

a nation known for being socially-conservative,>>

Perhaps you wouldn't be so surprised or confused about it if you hadn't made the mistake of attributing political labels to a religon.

"Convervative" is a political label, not a religious one. When it comes to a nation's overall religiosity, that has to be measured in terms of 'orthodox' vs 'unorthodox', not 'conservative vs 'liberalism'.

<<a nation that Pope Benedict is scheduled to visit later this year, has taken a vote to pass gay marriage.>>

Then it's a good thing the pope plans to visit Portugal.

<<The law still has a little limbo to go through before being finalized but it is likely that it will become official in April, a month before the Pope's visit.>>

Even in America, some state governments are instituting same-sex marriagbe in opposition to the will of the majority. More often than not, the people have over-ruled their state governments on that issue.

The point is, you can't presume that this is the will of the average Portugese citizen, especially if they really are as socially conservative as you claim.

Portugal is not that conservative, in fact, what we consider conservative in Portugal would correspond to the american democratic party... The majority of the population is left wing.

And although Portugal is traditionally catholic, the vast majority of those under 45, although probably baptized, don't pay any importance to religion whatsoever...

Needless to say that in Portugal there is a clear and total separation between church and state, written in our Constitution. As an example it would be a scandal if our President said something like "God bless Portugal", moreover, that's forbidden under our Constitution, for a representative of the people mix his religion with his political post.

Obrigado ! Yes I can, because the Portuguese like to surprise everyone, in 1974 Portugal apologize to the world for their part in early slavery. If you are not of Portuguese decent as I am ...or a part of the question here on gay marriage issues...then you have no say in this at all !

I'm guessing their government understands the need for separation of church and state.

Catholics or the Pope have no say in the affairs of the Portuguese people nor it's government.

Wouldn't surprise me if the Catholic clergy pulled it's political strings and excommunicated Portugal or something.

The Clergy is corrupt just as much as Politicians are.

Yes, because it was passed by a few liberal politicians and not the "socially-conservative" Roman Catholic nation.

It is rather sad that democracy has taken another blow.

The Portuguese parliament is trying to pass the law but when the people said they want to voice their opinion on the matter in a vote, the same parliament said no.

I wonder how many of these representatives of the people will be re-elected?

With love in Christ.

Sure, I believe it, they're also just another libtard Euro-socialist welfare state, so why would they hesitate to further expand the number of recipients of the economic entitlements married people get?

Just more socialist lunacy. They should be pitied, not emulated.

A clear indication of the separation of the church and state, which should be the case anyway.

I have a bridge for sale too. The gays will go the same way as the dinosaur. Non breading or diseases.