Unwed couples get new rights in Italy
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The Italian Cabinet on Thursday approved proposed legislation granting legal rights to unmarried couples in both heterosexual and same-sex relationships.Comment
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FARGO, N.D. - The tradition of Romani girls marrying as young as 14 years old is so important for some immigrant families here that they would rather break the law than change their ways.
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Italian brides and grooms marrying in Catholic churches will no longer "take" each other as husband or wife, but will "accept" each other.
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DUBLIN, Ireland  - A lesbian couple who wed in Canada can seek to have their union legally recognized in Ireland, a judge ruled Tuesday in a case he predicted would have deep consequences for this predominantly Roman Catholic country.
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A California law taking effect with the new year gives gay couples who register as domestic partners nearly the same responsibilities and benefits as married spouses.
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BOGOT&#xC1;, Colombia -- The Colombian Constitutional Court has ruled that same-sex couples are entitled to the same inheritance rights as heterosexuals in common-law marriages, marking a step forward for gay rights in the traditionally conservative, Catholic region.
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Thousands of supporters of legislation that would grant legal rights to unmarried couples including gays rallied Saturday to urge Italian lawmakers to resist Vatican pressure against the measure.Comment
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Italy's lower house of parliament approved sweeping constitutional changes Friday that would shift much authority to the country's regions and vastly increase the strength of the premier by having him directly elected.
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JAKARTA, Indonesia - Call it a kissing crackdown. Indonesia's government is considering a law banning unwed couples from pecking in public - and harshly penalizing those who do, The Jakarta Post reported Saturday.
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A controversial law that would give gay and lesbian couples the same right to marry, divorce and adopt children as heterosexuals was approved by Spain&#39;s Socialist government Friday.
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Italians largely oppose gay marriage with  61 percent rejecting homosexual wedlock and even more opposed  to adoption for same-sex couples, a poll on Sunday showed.
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DUBLIN, Ireland  - A lesbian couple who wed in Canada launched a legal battle Monday to have their union legally recognized in Ireland, where homosexuality itself was outlawed until a decade ago.
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Italy's left is seeking to "eradicate" the traditional family with its plan for a law that would give unmarried couples, including gays, some of the same rights as married couples, the Vatican newspaper said ...Comment
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Conservative groups in New Jersey are pushing a proposal that would grant the rights of marriage &#151; but not the title &#151; to gays, siblings and others involved in domestic partnerships.
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New rules on marriage for foreign nationals come into force but a major immigrants' group says they may breach human rights law.
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Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday praised a recent demonstration in Rome against proposed legislation granting legal rights to unmarried couples, including gay ones, saying it showed that traditional family was at the core of Italian society.Benedict called the May 12 Family Day rally, organized by Catholic groups and family associations, a 'great and extraordinary popular festival.'Hundreds of thousands of people turned out for the demonstration to protest a bill that would grant legal rights to unmarried couples, including hospital visits and inheritance rights. The bill does not legalize gay marriage, as was done in other European countries, such as Spain. Read more
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The signature ceremony for the European Constitution agreement and a final bill have been completed. Host country Italy&#39;s Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, made a speech at the ceremony saying that October