Church prayer against gay union
'Prayer for France' will be read out at churches around the country on Assumption Day
A NATIONAL "prayer for France" opposing gay marriage and euthanasia and criticising single parent families is to be read out in churches all over the country next week.
The prayer, written by a leading French cardinal, aims to reaffirm the church's political position, after President Hollande announced plans to legalise homosexual marriage.
It has been sent to every parish in France to be read out on Assumption Day, August 15, in the hope of mobilising churchgoers to join a campaign against the proposals.
The prayer specifically addresses "those who have been recently elected to legislate and govern" - and asks "that their sense of the common good will overcome special demands".
On gay adoption, it says children should "cease to be objects of the desires and conflicts of adults and fully benefit from the love of a father and a mother".
Prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced at the end of June that the new Socialist government was planning a law to legalise marriage and adoption for same-sex couples.
The government will hold discussions at the rentrée on ways of making life easier for transgender people, who often face problems with the French administration.
