Juan Antonio Martinez Camino, outgoing
spokesman and general secretary for Spain's Episcopal Conference, has
declared that the nation's gay marriage law has destroyed marriage
for all.
Gay couples gained the right to marry
in 2005 under the socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez
Zapatero, who called the legislation a great achievement.
(Related: Spain's
Jose Zapatero says he's proudest of gay marriage on his way out.)
Speaking on Cadena
Ser radio, Martinez
Camino argued that “the law has destroyed marriage” insisting
that “I wish there was a homosexual marriage law. What that law
has done is destroy marriage for all.” Changing the nation's laws
on marriage, he said, “is more serious than changing from Monarchy
to Republic.”
He added that Pope Francis, before he
was elected pontiff, called the law “an act of Satan” in 2010.
While the law remains on the books,
Spain's current prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, and his conservative
Popular Party (PP) have challenged its constitutionality in court and
lost.
Martinez Camino steps down from his
post on November 20.