Church had opposed legislation promised by Labour govt.

The predominantly Roman Catholic island nation of Malta is set to legalise gay marriage, joining much of Western Europe by replacing the traditional “you are now husband and wife” declaration in civil ceremonies with “you are now spouses.”

The Catholic Church had opposed the legislation, which the Labour government promised to introduce as its first law after winning a second term last month and which both Opposition parties support. The only question heading into Wednesday’s parliamentary vote was whether there would be any votes against.

‘Modernisation’ aim

The aim of the law, piloted by Equality Minister Helena Dalli, is to “modernise the institution of marriage” to extend it to all consenting adult couples.

The passage of the law is the latest evidence of the transformation of the once conservative island nation of about 4,40,000 people, where divorce was illegal until 2011.

While abortion remains banned in Malta, gay adoption has been made legal since civil unions were introduced in 2014.

Last year, the number of exclusively civil marriages eclipsed the number of church weddings for the first time in the country.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna has opposed the gay marriage law, reflecting the church’s long-standing view that marriage is only between a man and woman.