” “"If the end is to protect people, this can happen without creating a new legal status that would clash with the married family, as outlined and protected by our Constitution": this was the position taken during the press conference for the presentation of the final document of the Permanent Bishops Council, by mgr. Giuseppe Betori, secretary general of the Italian Bishops Conference, when asked by the press if the Italian Church would recognise de facto marriages at all. After saying that "the legitimate married family must be fully and more exhaustively protected", Betori added that "no right can ever lead to the recognition of a new legal status". As to the rights to be granted to live-in couples, he repeated the position of the Permanent Council, according to which "if any further aspect needed legal protection, there is the option of common law or amending the civil code, provided we remain within the sphere of human rights and duties". ” “
