Portugal’s Highest Court Rejects Attempts to Ban Traditional Marriage

Portugal’s Constitutional Court has ruled that the country’s law on marriage doesn’t include the possibility of “same-sex marriage”, rejecting a challenge by two women who want to “marry” each other. The court said its five judges ruled 3-2 against an appeal lodged by the women two years ago.

Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao, divorced mothers in their 30s who’ve lived together since 2003, were turned away by a Lisbon registry office when they tried to “marry” in 2006, because the law stipulates that marriage is between a man and a woman.

Arguing that Portugal’s constitution bars discrimination based on “sexual orientation”, the women took their case to a Lisbon court, which rejected their unprecedented challenge.

After considering their appeal against that decision, the Constitutional Court said in a statement on its Website that the constitution doesn’t say authorities must permit homosexual “marriages”. AP. July 31.Courtesy of Family & Life

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