Churches Attack Gay Partnership Reform
04/07/2011
Submitted by
ILGA-Europe
Original article: http://news.err.ee/politics/f9b2b549-2422-4187-94f9-29043e3a19e0
The Council of Churches reiterated its opposition to legalizing of same-sex partnerships in Estonia in an open letter to the Ministry of Justice this week.
"The Council does not condone homosexuality," said the letter, addressed to Minister Kristen Michal. "The legislation that exists in the Repulic of Estonia today [already] provides sufficient rights to such partnerships in the form of a civil law partnership."
The Council of Churches, a union of 10 Estonian congregations, asserted that the traditional family "ensures the sustainability of the people and the land of Estonia [...] Reforming the Family Act and other relevant laws would sooner or later redefine the concept of marriage and destroy the family [...]"
Last month, Chancellor of Justice Indrek Teder made a powerful move, requesting that the Ministry of Justice introduce legislation to give same-sex partnerships a sound legal foundation.
After drawing up a thorough legal analysis in 2009, the ministry decided last summer, when it was headed by another politician, to drop all intentions of legislating civil unions of same-sex partners because of opposition from the ruling coalition's more conservative partner, IRL. The ministry's argument was that the current legal framework already protects the rights of partners in civil unions, and that there is no reason to pass separate legislation specifically for same-sex couples. "We don't see it as a vital problem that Estonia has to direct its resources to right now," an IRL member had said.
In a May 23 statement, Chancellor of Justice Teder said that the current legal framework does not ensure adequate protection of the rights of de-facto cohabitation partners, and is thus contrary to the constitution. In his view, the law needs to be changed to cover areas such as property ownership and legal succession.
"Any kind of regulation is better than simply cohabitation. It's necessary to have social guarantees - the same rights that married couples have," said Madle Saluveer, press secretary for Young Gays of Estonia.
Same-sex marriages are legal in seven countries in Europe, while civil partnerships are legal in 13.
The Council of Churches reiterated its opposition to legalizing of same-sex partnerships in Estonia in an open letter to the Ministry of Justice this week.
"The Council does not condone homosexuality," said the letter, addressed to Minister Kristen Michal. "The legislation that exists in the Repulic of Estonia today [already] provides sufficient rights to such partnerships in the form of a civil law partnership."
The Council of Churches, a union of 10 Estonian congregations, asserted that the traditional family "ensures the sustainability of the people and the land of Estonia [...] Reforming the Family Act and other relevant laws would sooner or later redefine the concept of marriage and destroy the family [...]"
Last month, Chancellor of Justice Indrek Teder made a powerful move, requesting that the Ministry of Justice introduce legislation to give same-sex partnerships a sound legal foundation.
After drawing up a thorough legal analysis in 2009, the ministry decided last summer, when it was headed by another politician, to drop all intentions of legislating civil unions of same-sex partners because of opposition from the ruling coalition's more conservative partner, IRL. The ministry's argument was that the current legal framework already protects the rights of partners in civil unions, and that there is no reason to pass separate legislation specifically for same-sex couples. "We don't see it as a vital problem that Estonia has to direct its resources to right now," an IRL member had said.
In a May 23 statement, Chancellor of Justice Teder said that the current legal framework does not ensure adequate protection of the rights of de-facto cohabitation partners, and is thus contrary to the constitution. In his view, the law needs to be changed to cover areas such as property ownership and legal succession.
"Any kind of regulation is better than simply cohabitation. It's necessary to have social guarantees - the same rights that married couples have," said Madle Saluveer, press secretary for Young Gays of Estonia.
Same-sex marriages are legal in seven countries in Europe, while civil partnerships are legal in 13.
