The Archdiocese of Mexico is urging authorities to sit down to dialog with the National Front, an anti-gay marriage political group in Mexico, so they can share their views with the president concerning “respect for the family.” The Catholic Church says that the group has every right to be heard just like President Enrique Peña Nieto met with pro-gay marriage groups to hear their stance on the controversial issue.
The Catholic Church released an article in its official journal “Desde la fe”, in which it argues that the 500,000 signatures that the National Front delivered last week to Mexico's lower house of Congress “are not a symbol of triumph or revenge,” but instead demonstrate their opposition to society turning its back on “traditional family” values.
“We hope the president is open to taking the time to sit down, talk with and take into consideration the organizers of the pro-family demonstrations we saw across the country, who represent Mexico's society as a whole, as well as their high family values and anthropological, ethical and moral values.”
“The least that we expect from the president is for him to sit down with us just like he sat down with members of the LGBTTTI community in an attempt to please his party's constituents, but in the end only proved to backfire on his party.”
Pro LGBTTTI rights groups accuse the Catholic Church of meddling in the affairs of Mexico's secular government by trying to influence the president's decision on same-sex marriage legislation.
In an interview with EL UNIVERSAL, Cristian Galarza, a spokesman for an LGBTTTI, said that the president should in fact consider every group's opinions concerning public matters; however, he said that the Church has demonstrated its desire to interfere in civil matters.
“This initiative is out of place. Although we agree that in a democratic society, everyone’s opinion should be taken into account, we believe that the Church has no right interfering in the secular State's affairs or in public policy and that's exactly what they're doing,” a spokesman for the LGBTTTI group was quoted as saying.