Portugal's conservative President Anibal Cavaco Silva ratified a law that would allow same sex marriage in his country, but would not protect gay adoption, the Euronews is reporting.

Portugal becomes just the sixth country in Europe to allow such unions and it comes less than a week after Pope Benedict urged the people of the predominantly Catholic country to ban the practice.  The other countries where gay marriage is legal are Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway and Sweden.

The law was passed in February by the minority Socialist government after intense debate.

Silva took pen in hand despite his personal beliefs on the issue, "There are moments in the life of a country when ethical responsibility has to be placed above one's personal convictions," the President said.

There are indications that the President's decision to ratify the law might have been swayed if the law allowed for gay adoption.  As it stands now, gay adoption is not protected in the current law.   

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