NM: Bishops Get Requested Domestic Partnership Bill Changes, Then Stab Bill Supporters in the Back

The battle in the Legislature over a bill to establish domestic-partner rights pits social advocates and lobbyists who normally are allied on a variety of issues against each other. Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, introduced Senate Bill 183 on Tuesday. As has been the case with previous domestic-partnership bills, it is backed by Gov. Bill Richardson.

Also working for the bill are various left-leaning activists, civic organizations and churches. But opposing it are New Mexico's Roman Catholic bishops, who have stood alongside many of the domestic-partnership proponents in past Legislative fights to end the death penalty and cockfighting, increase minimum wage and to preserve funding for poverty programs.

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The chief objection the bishops had to the previous bill was that it referred to that marriage law. In February, Sanchez told a reporter, “If they just spelled out all the rights you'd get under a domestic partnership and not refer to the marriage law, the bishops probably would drop their opposition.”

Full Story from the Rio Rancho Observer
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