The French socialist government agreed on Wednesday to legalize same-sex marriage and to allow adoption for same-sex couples, amid strong opposition of the Roman Catholic church and rightists.

The government gave the green light for same-sex couples to marry and adopt children after a weekly cabinet meeting. During his election campaign, President Francois Hollande promised the legislation would be endorsed by mid-2013.

The draft law "based on research of the effectiveness of equality principle, allows same-sex couples to marry. Therefore, it's also open to same-sex married the way of adoption, whether the joint adoption of a child by the couple or adoption of the spouse's child," according to a government statement.

The bill would recognize same-sex marriage celebrated before the entry into force of the law, it added.

"This is an important step towards the equality of rights," said Minister of Family Affairs Dominique Bertinnoti.

Describing the law as "legal protection" of the family, the minister added "all opinions could be heard as long as the debate keeps its quality."

However, religious leaders and conservatives mobilized against the move with France's leading Roman Catholic Church warning last Saturday that the draft bill would destabilize the French society's equilibrium.

"It is not just about homosexual marriage, it is about a complete reorganization, deconstruction of the right of the family, with questions surrounding lineage, the removal of the reference to father and mother in the text," Jean-Francois Cope, president of the conservative Union for a Popular Movement Group (UMP) told France Inter radio.

Polls showed up to two-thirds of French voters back gay marriage, but are split on the issue of adoption.

The draft law will be presented to parliament in January, 2013.

Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden currently allow gay marriage and gay couples to adopt.

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