Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

PARIS

Paris mayor slams bishop for gay incest jibe

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, one of France's few openly gay politicians, said Monday a Catholic Church leader had "flipped his lid" by saying that same-sex marriage would bring polygamy and incest.

Published: 17 September 2012 16:02 CEST
Paris mayor slams bishop for gay incest jibe
Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF)

The comments from Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, came as France's Socialist government prepares a bill legalising same-sex marriages and adoptions by homosexual couples, to be presented to cabinet on October 24th.

"It is very shocking and even surprising coming from him, because he is someone I consider a wise man," Delanoe said. "I don't know what came over
him, he flipped his lid a little bit and what he said was downright ugly."

Asked about the bill in an interview broadcast by RCF Christian radio on Friday, Barbarin said legalising same-sex marriage amounted to a "breakdown in
society".

"This could have innumerable consequences. Afterward they will want to create couples with three or four members. And after that, perhaps one day the taboo of incest will fall," he said.

Delanoe said he was "obviously" ready to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies as mayor and had already received several requests to do so.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

SHOW COMMENTS