Brazilian Bishops Decry Same-Sex Marriage Decision

Brazilian bishops are criticizing a recent decision that gives a de facto green light to same-sex marriage just two months before a visit to the predominantly Catholic country by Pope Francis.

On Tuesday, the National Council of Justice (NCJ), a panel which oversees the South American state's legal system and is headed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, said government offices that issue marriage licenses had no standing to reject gay couples.

"Same sex unions cannot simply be equated to marriage or family, which are based on matrimonial consent, in the spirit of complementarity and reciprocity between a man and a woman, open to the procreation and education of children," the Confederation of Brazilian Bishops said in a statement Thursday.

"We join with all those who legitimately and democratically protest against the resolution."

In Congress, a strong religious faction opposes same-sex marriage and no such law has been approved.

In explaining Tuesday's decision, Supreme Court Chief Justice Joaquim Barbosa said there was no reason for government marriage licensing offices to wait for Congress to pass a law before extending gays rights they legally already have.

He noted that the Supreme Court in 2011 recognized stable homosexual unions, ruling that the constitution guaranteed them the same rights as heterosexual couples.

Since then, some offices have granted marriage licenses to gay couples and others have not.

While some state courts have recognized same-sex marriages, the council's ruling was the first to set out a national standard.

The NCJ's decision can be challenged by the Supreme Court.

It came just weeks before Pope Francis heads to Brazil July 22-29 for World Youth Day, a major Catholic event expected to draw upwards of 2.5 million people.