France Considers a Gay Marriage Bill as Marriage Itself Is in Decline PARIS- French President François Hollande campaigned on a pledge to legalize gay marriage, though it drew little attention at the time, and he now has the votes in parliament to do it. A bill is slated for debate later this month, and there is every expectation that it will pass - in what form, exactly, remains to be seen - but the issue has now prompted fierce reactions here. Religious leaders have denounced the bill, but so have secular groups and politicians of all leanings and groups concerned that gay marriage will threaten national unity by encouraging special interest groups to request exceptional rights. Much of the opposition has focused on questions of parenthood. As currently written, the bill would allow married gay couples to adopt children together, and opponents have said they fear for children not raised by a mother and father. But there are of course plenty of single-parent homes in France, and the majority of children born here are now born out of wedlock. Many French view marriage as having religious overtones, though weddings here are thoroughly secular affairs, in general, conducted in town halls by local officials. Marriage numbers have been declining in France for years. Mr. Hollande himself is not married and has no apparent intention to wed - opponents of the bill are fond of noting this -and his partner, Valérie Trierweiler, remains the legal wife of another man. Civil unions have grown increasingly popular. A system of civil unions known as the PACS, or Pacte Civil de Solidarité, was established in 1999. Though the PACS was originally intended as an alternative to marriage for homosexuals, the vast majority of the unions are now between a man and woman. The PACS does not confer the same rights as marriage, especially with regard to parental rights but also in terms of inheritance and fiscal benefits. Gay rights groups have continued to push for full marriage rights, though some have said they would be satisfied with an enhanced PACS. Supporters of gay marriage in France say legalizing gay marriage would simply give homosexual couples and their children the same rights and protections afforded heterosexual married couples. Opponents say society should not be in the habit of endorsing practices or habits simply because it cannot prevent them.