French gay marriage and adoption bill backed by cabinet

[Gerald]

France's Socialist government has approved a bill to legalise same-sex marriage and allow gay couples to adopt.

The bill, opposed by more than 1,000 mayors and the Catholic Church, will be debated by parliament in January.

France already allows civil unions between same-sex couples, but it was a campaign pledge of President Francois Hollande to extend their rights.

It is one of the most divisive issues he has faced, correspondents say.

Mr Hollande told his cabinet that the bill would mean "progress not only for individuals but for the whole of society".

But at the weekend the head of the French Council of Bishops, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, described gay marriage as "the ultimate deceit".

And an opposition senator in the conservative UMP, Serge Dassault, said: "It's the end of the family, the end of children's development, the end of education - it's an enormous danger to the nation."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20224677

Note: 7 November 2012 Last updated at 12:49 GMT