Nearly One Million March for Marriage in Paris

Don Feder : Jan 18, 2013
World Congress of Families

"The French are tolerant, but they are deeply attached to the family and the defense of children." -Daniel Liechti

(Paris, France)—World Congress of Families (WCF) hailed Sunday's march for traditional, natural marriage in Paris. WCF Managing Director Larry Jacobs commented: "Hundreds of thousands marched in Paris yesterday, in bitterly cold temperatures, to oppose plans by President Francois Hollande to force a bill legalizing so-called same-sex marriage through the parliament. Yesterday's march, supported by the French Catholic hierarchy, was an impassioned outpouring in defense of marriage, children, and the natural family. It demonstrates, once again, that the push for 'same-sex marriage' is driven by elites and rejected by the overwhelming majority of families worldwide."

Commenting on the success of the march, Daniel Liechti, Vice President of the National Council of French Evangelicals, observed, "The French are tolerant, but they are deeply attached to the family and the defense of children." Justice Minister Christiane Taubira ominously described the move by the Hollande government as "civilization changing." (Photo: Fred Dufour/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)

Coinciding with the Paris march, across the Channel, more than 1,000 Catholic priests and prelates signed a letter warning that the legalization of "same-sex marriage" in the United Kingdom could lead to renewed persecution of Catholics, which might include those faithful to the Church's teaching losing their jobs.

World Congress of Families and its 37 Partners have been in the forefront of worldwide efforts to protect natural marriage. In 2008, WCF circulated an international leadership petition in support of a successful effort to amend the Romanian civil code to limit marriage to one man and one woman.

In 2010, the Congress rallied international opposition to the legalization of same-sex unions in Mexico City. WCF Partner Red Familia (the Family Network) spearheaded opposition in Mexico.

In August 2012, more than 120 pro-life and pro-family leaders from 11 countries signed a World Congress of Families petition protesting participation by the U.S. ambassador in Prague in the annual "gay pride" parade. Such events are usually a stalking horse for "same-sex marriage."

Last May, Christian Concern (a WCF Partner) held a London colloquium entitled "One Man, One Woman—Making The Case for Marriage." Due to political pressure and Prime Minister David Cameron's support for "same-sex marriage," organizers were forced to relocate the conference twice from two different private and government venues. Also, Christian Concern was part of a coalition that delivered to 10 Downing Street over half-a-million signatures on a petition to keep marriage between a man and a woman.

In September, WCF Partners Australian Family Association, Endeavour Forum and Dads4Kids helped to defeat "same-sex marriage" in votes in both houses of the Australian Federal Parliament. Marriage will be among the topics discussed at World Congress of Families VII in Sydney, May 15-18, 2013.

And in the United States, WCF Partner the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and Brian Brown have been involved in most of the referenda amending state constitutions to protect natural marriage.

Jacobs concluded: "We congratulate the organizers of the Paris march and declare our solidarity with efforts to defend natural marriage in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and wherever such efforts are underway. Just as the campaign to undermine marriage . . . is international in scope, the defense of natural marriage must stretch across national boundaries to embrace families everywhere."