Ecuador's Roman Catholic Church attacks draft constitution for gay unions, abortion

[Judi Lynn]

Ecuador's Roman Catholic Church attacks draft constitution for gay unions, abortion

The Associated Press
Monday, July 28, 2008

QUITO, Ecuador: A top religious official in Ecuador said Monday that the country's newly approved draft constitution is incompatible with the Roman Catholic faith because of its provisions on abortion and same-sex unions.

A special assembly controlled by leftist President Rafael Correa's political movement approved the 444-article constitution last week. The charter must still be put to a national referendum on Sept. 28.

Correa says the new constitution is needed to wrest power from Ecuador's widely discredited political elite, but critics contend it would concentrate too much power in Correa's hands.

Monsignor Antonio Arregui, president of the Ecuadorean Episcopal Conference, criticized the draft charter for ambiguous abortion laws and granting same-sex unions the same benefits afforded in heterosexual marriages.

More:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/28/america/LA-Ecuador-Church-Constitution.php