AMERICA/PUERTO RICO - “The nature of matrimony cannot be redefined because this would undermine the fundamental values which belong to the common and original heritage of the human family” president of Bishops’ Conference criticises proposed reform of Civil Code

San Juan de Puerto Rico (Agenzia Fides) - On February 14 during a public debate on proposed amendments to the country’s Civil Code Archbishop Roberto González Nieves of San Juan San Juan de Puerto Rico president of Bishops’ Conference expressed the local Church’s dissent with regard to giving same sex unions the same status as marriage because, the Archbishop said “The nature of matrimony cannot be redefined because this would undermine the fundamental values which belong to the common and original heritage of the human family”
The Senate of Puerto Rico started a series of weekly debates on the proposed amendments every Wednesday which will last through March. The amendments include recognition of hereditary rights for de facto and same sex couples, experimentation with human embryos and artificial insemination and change of sex in birth certificates.
During the hearing on 14 February the Archbishop said the Church is of the opinion that “the Public Registra cannot change data such as the sex of a person and that our law cannot consider the possibility of marriage between persons of the same sex .”
He said to give unions the same status as marriage would alter the moral tissue of society and cause irreversible damage to the dignity of the human person and the integrity of Puerto Rican families.
"The Church’s opposition to recognition of same sex unions is not opposition to individual human rights due to every person, but rather opposition to a new juridical order which would undermine fundamental human values, the archbishop said warning that "man cannot change nature created by God". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 16/2/2007; righe 29, parole 380)