On 20 April the Senate of Belgium approved, with 34 votes in favour, 33 against and 2 abstentions, the bill that would allow the adoption of children by homosexual couples. The bishops of the country had opposed it, recalling that the difference between the sexes is the fundamental point of reference of the family”. A year ago, in May 2005, the bishops had issued a statement in which they had expressed their “deep concern” about the issue. “Without placing in doubt the good faith of homosexual couples who wish to adopt children”, the Belgian bishops urged that “account be taken of the consequences that such adoption might have on the psychological development of children”.
