Maltese Church denounces proposed same-sex civil union legislation
A Maltese bishop has slammed the government's proposed same-sex civil union legislation, saying that there is simply no equivalence between heterosexual and homosexual relationships . “While the sexual activity of heterosexual couples has a fundamental role in producing future members of the society, that of same-sex couples does not have a role in society as it does not produce offspring,” said Bishop Charles Scicluna during an interview with Reno Bugeja on TV Malta's Dissett investigative news program. Bishop Scicluna criticized the ambiguity of the terms used in the bill, saying that the government must make a clear distinction between civil unions and marriage, and should come clean on what it is actually proposing. “Currently, the obligations and rights of members within a civil union are barely different from those within a marriage and consequently, parliament needs to clearly distinguish the rights pertinent to a marriage and those to a civil union,”