Predominately Catholic Portugal will become the sixth Europoean nation to pass legislation giving gay and lesbian couples to marry.

“This law rights a wrong,” the prime minister, Jose Socrates, said in a speech to politicians, adding that it “simply ends pointless suffering”.

Socrates said the measure was part of his effort to modernise Portugal, where homosexuality was a crime until 1982. Two years ago his government lifted Portugal’s ban on abortion, despite church opposition.

Gay marriage is currently permitted in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway. Canada, South Africa and six US states also permit it.

The bill removes a reference in the current law to marriage being between two people of different sexes.

“It’s a slight change to the law, it’s true,” said Socrates. “But it is a very important and symbolic step towards fully ensuring respect for values that are essential in any democratic, open and tolerant society: the values of freedom, equality and non-discrimination.”

Read more in the Guardian.