December 15, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The leader of Brazil’s National Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB), Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis, has issued a statement denying that CNBB has made an agreement with legislators regarding the content of a proposed “anti-homophobia” bill being pushed by the ruling socialist Labor Party.
Following reports in the Brazilian press that a deal had been struck with the CNBB to modify the bill to allow religious groups to continue expressing their opposition to homosexual behavior, Cardinal Assis writes that the presidency of the CNBB did “not make an agreement” with Labor Party senator Marta Suplicy, the bill’s principal advocate in the nation’s Senate.
“The presidency of the CNBB did not make an agreement with the senator, as was reported in the press,” Assis writes. “At the time, (we) made observations and suggestions, and agreed to continue accompanying the development of the discussion regarding the bill,” he added.
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However, Assis made no statement of opposition to the bill, and added that the CNBB “reiterated the position of the Church in favor of combating all types of discrimination, and finally indicated its fraternal and permanent willingness to dialog and collaborate in everything that gives respect to the good of the human person.”
The bill, which bears the name PL 122/2006, purports to protect homosexuals from “homophobia,” a term created by homosexual activists to characterize their opponents as mentally ill. It was temporarily withdrawn from consideration a week ago in the face of heavy opposition from Evangelical and Catholic representatives and activists.
Critics of PL 122/2006 are concerned that it will be used to persecute Christians and others who reject homosexual acts as immoral. Multiple attempts to pass the bill have failed since it was first introduced in 2006.