Five Faiths in Macedonia Against Gay Marriage; "Marriage Is a Union of One Man and One Woman"

The heads of the five dominant religions in Macedonia want the constitution changed to define marriage strictly as a union of one man and one woman and to prevent same-sex couples and single parents from adopting children, the Balkan Insight website reports today (January 1, 2011).

The heads of the five faiths unanimously supported the proposed changes to the constitution at a meeting this week in Skopje.

Behind the proposition stand the heads of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the Islamic Religious Community, the Catholic Church, the Methodist Church, and the Jewish Community.

Archbishop Stefan, head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, said, "No one should be afraid of traditional and correct views regarding marriage."

Reacting to the clerics' proposed changes, the opposition Social Democrats said they suspected the campaign was being conducted in coordination with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and his VMRO DPMNE party, which has a majority in parliament.

Two-thirds of Macedonian legislators must vote in favor of a proposed change to the constitution for it to be adopted.