The Cabinet of Spain's new Socialist government is expected to pass a bill allowing same-sex marriages on Friday. The proposed bill has started a furor with the Catholic Church who say the bill will release a "virus" into Spanish society. Once passed, the bill will go to Parliament for debate.

If the bill becomes law, homosexuals would be able to marry by next year. Spain would join Belgium and the Netherlands in legalizing gay marriage. Sweden and Denmark recognize "civil union" laws for same-sex couples. This is expected to be the first step in Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's pledge to overhaul church-state relations and ultimately make Spain a secular state. AP has more.