A former Dutch MP has admitted that polygamous marriage is the "next logical step" following the introduction of same-sex marriages in the Netherlands.
Speaking to the French online magazine, Yagg, Boris Dittrich said there was now a movement in the Netherlands to introduce multi-partner marriages.
Campaign
Mr Dittrich, who led the campaign that resulted in the introduction of same-sex ‘marriages’ in the Netherlands in 2001, explained how he had pushed for a change in the law.
He admitted that he had started by campaigning for civil partnerships to get members of the public “used to the idea” that same-sex relationships were recognised by the law.
“We thought it might be psychologically better to first introduce registered partnerships”, he said.
“It appeared to be a good decision because people got used to the idea that two men or two women had their relationships recognised by the law and people called it a gay marriage”.
He said that the next logical step was to introduce full same-sex ‘marriages’, and that there was now a “discussion in the Netherlands that sometimes people want to marry with three people and maybe even more”.
Fears
The Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, has expressed fears that politicians would redefine marriage to include “multiple partners” after same-sex 'marriages' were introduced in the state in 2011.
Writing in his blog, Archbishop Dolan said: “The Church has always stood-up for marriage — one man and one woman, united in lifelong and faithful love, leading to new life in children – whenever and wherever it was in danger….And now we ring the steeple bell again at this latest dilution of the authentic understanding of marriage, worried that the next step will be another redefinition to justify multiple partners and infidelity.”
Criticism
Last year, a public notary in Brazil attracted criticism after permitting a civil union between one man and two women.
The youth wing of the Finnish Green Party also proposed the legalisation of polygamy in the country in July 2011, whilst the Toronto District School Board in Canada came under fire after releasing a poster in schools promoting polygamous marriages.
Comment
Andrea Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said: "The situation in Holland should act as a stark warning to the UK that once marriage is redefined to include same-sex couples, pressure will grow for further redefinitions.
"After all, if marriage is reduced by the state to a contract between two people who love each other, there will no longer be any logical reason for prohibiting marriages between three or more people. Where would we draw the line?"
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