Social Services & Catholicism

[from The Latin American Herald Tribune, 07/29/10]

Argentina Boosts Pensions, Aid to Poor Families

BUENOS AIRES – Argentine President Cristina Fernandez announced Wednesday a 16.9 percent increase in payments to pensioners, aiming to preempt efforts by opposition lawmakers to push through a significantly larger boost.

A total of roughly 10 million people are expected to benefit from the pension hike and a 22 percent increase in child subsidies to low-income families.

Starting in September, the minimum pension will be 1,046 pesos ($265) a month, while the monthly child subsidy will rise to 220 pesos ($56) for each minor in qualified households, the president said in nationally broadcast speech.

She said the benefit hikes represent an expenditure equal to 1.35 percent of Argentina’s 2009 gross domestic product, measured at $315 billion.


[from The Underground, 07/29/10]

Gay marriage law in Argentina signals waning Catholic influence

The recent enactment in Argentina of a gay marriage law is being largely viewed to indicate the waning influence of the Catholic church in Argentina–and generally, Latin America.

The law, which allows gay couples to marry and adopt children, is perceived to indicate that there is a greater desire for more liberal social legislation in what had long been viewed as a Catholic stronghold, Reuters said.

The law was signed by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on July 21 after bitter legislative debate and strong lobbying from the Catholic church, with a 33-27 vote.

The Catholic church’s failure to derail the law is also indicative of a new cultural direction in Latin America, which is comparable to the experience of Portugal and Spain, both of which have legalized gay marriage despite a strong history of Catholicism and a near-past history of Catholic dictatorships, Time Magazine says.

Among Argentina’s gay community, it is believed that the vote reflects loathing towards the Catholic hierarchy, Marcelo Ernesto Ferreyra of the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission said. Time Magazine noted that Ferreyra cited the loss of prestige of the Catholic church in Argentina.

Gay marriage is also legal in Mexico City and Uruguay; while Chile’s president Sebastian Pinera also has expressed plans to enhance the rights of same-sex couples, Reuters said. With the new law, RD Magazine said there may be new changes in the future, for example abortion may soon be legalized in Latin America.

Already, a leading candidate for president in Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, has expressed favor for legalized abortion. Of note, Brazil has the highest Catholic population in the world, Reuters said.