‘Prayer and holy anger!’: French Catholics protest homosexual ‘marriage’ outside nation’s Senate

by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

April 9, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) - As the French Senate is moving towards the approval of a bill to create homosexual "marriage" and adoption, pro-family Catholics are organizing daily protests on the streets outside, vowing to stay the course despite complaints from the bill's proponents.

The Civitas Institute, a group dedicated to defending the historically Catholic values of France, has been holding marches and demonstrations outside of the Senate building since April 4. Their slogan -- "Neither balloons nor blare - prayer and holy anger!" -- contrasts their openly religious approach with the more secular marches organized by other groups. Civitas' march on Saturday drew approximately 900 people according to the French magazine Le Point.

Holding Republican flags with the image of the Sacred Heart of the Vendee superimposed upon them, the protesters pray the rosary, and then chant slogans of protest, calling for the resignation of the bill's author, Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, as well as President Francois Hollande, and insisting that "the family is sacred!"

"Mrs. Taubira seems to be increasingly annoyed with the national and popular mobilization against her bill," notes Civitas president Alain Escada. "She complains about repeated demonstrations, of our prayers in front of the Senate, and says that it should stop."

"There's only one way to make it stop, Madame Taubria, and it's simple," he continues. "Withdraw your infamous bill that seeks to disfigure the Family, the foundation of society. Until that happens, the defenders of the family will carry out their various activities of resistance and of response. Are you obstinate? We will be persevering and determined!"

The protests follow a massive march late last month that drew up to 1.4 million people in opposition to the bill, which opponents say will undermine the family and violate the rights of children to have a mother and a father. Although police used tear gas to assault thousands of peaceful marchers, including children, pro-family groups are undaunted.

Erwann Binet, a socialist deputy who is the bill's main supporter in the National Assembly, found to his chagrin last Saturday that a majority of the young audience at a debate organized by the University of Saint-Etienne was pro-marriage. Many whistled at him and chanted "France for the French" and "resign Hollande," leading him to withdraw from the event. He now says he won't participate in future debates.

Secularist forces opposing the bill are also showing determination. Brigide Barjot, a well-known French comedian who has played a key role in organizing the larger, non-religious demonstrations, will "never give up," according to a spokesman, adding that "the bill could be rejected by the Senate." Also being discussed are the possibilities of an appeal to the country's Constitutional Council, or a popular referendum on the issue. The latter option is supported by 66% of the population, according to a recent survey by the French polling agency IFOP.

The Civitas Institute complains that the country's conservative coalition, the UMP, is doing little to impede the progress of the bill in the Senate. A recent attempt to substitute a "civil union" bill offered by the UMP was voted down by the chamber.

If the Senate approves the bill, it will pass to the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, for another vote before becoming law.