2007年VOA标准英语-Italy's Proposed Family Law Draws Large Protest

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
13 May 2007

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have staged rallies in Rome to commemorate¹ Family Day. At issue is proposed legislation that would grant greater rights to unmarried couples including homosexuals. Sabina Castelfranco has more from Rome.

Demonstrators from all over Italy gathered in a Rome square Saturday for the Family Day rally. They listened to songs like this one whose words evoked² the need for children to have both a mother and a father.

Married couples with their children raised their voices to protest a proposed law that would give greater rights to unmarried couples, including gays and lesbians.

This woman says the family is important because society is based on the family and it is a value for everyone, not just Christians³.

Lay Catholic groups and family associations organized the rally. They stressed the importance of policies that will favor the traditional family unit and family values based on marriage between a man and a woman.

Thousands of supporters of the controversial bill organized a counter-rally in Rome's famed Piazza⁴ Navona square. They said Italy would be a more civilized⁵ country if it gave rights to unmarried and gay couples.

This woman says she is a mother and has a family. She says it is only fair that even if she did not have a husband she should be entitled to basic civil rights.

Politicians, such as Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio of the Greens also took part in the demonstrations⁶.

Pecoraro says Italy, like the rest of Europe, must give rights to all those who live together in this country. He says it is something simple, clear and clean.

Prime Minister Romano Prodi's center-left Cabinet proposed the controversial bill last February. Since then, it has been dividing Italians even though the proposed legislation stops short of legalizing gay marriage.

On one side are those who support calls by Pope Benedict XVI to defend the traditional family. On the other are those who say the measure would at last recognize the basic rights of people who live together outside marriage.

The draft legislation still requires parliamentary approval. Prime Minister Prodi has said lawmakers in his divided coalition⁷ are free to vote on it according to their conscience.

1 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

2 evoked   

[医]诱发的

参考例句：

• The music evoked memories of her youth. 这乐曲勾起了她对青年时代的回忆。
• Her face, though sad, still evoked a feeling of serenity. 她的脸色虽然悲伤，但仍使人感觉安详。

3 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

4 piazza   

n.广场；走廊

参考例句：

• Siena's main piazza was one of the sights of Italy.锡耶纳的主要广场是意大利的名胜之一。
• They walked out of the cafeteria,and across the piazzadj.他们走出自助餐厅,穿过广场。

5 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

6 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

7 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。