Romanian Romance
From the country that brought you…well, not much of anything really, comes this week's big international news story:
In Romania, decriminalizing incest among consenting adults is being considered as part of a wide range of reforms to the country's criminal code. No date has been set yet for a parliament vote on the bill, and opposition to the proposal is fervent even among some lawmakers in the ruling coalition.
Currently all forms of incest in Romania are punishable by up to seven years in prison. But Romania's Justice Ministry suggests the new legislation would move the country—which joined the European Union two years ago—closer legally to some other EU members.
The reforms are getting some press thanks to Josef Fritzl's recent trial in Austria. In case you missed it, he locked up his daughter for 23 years and fathered seven children with her.
But the most shocking stuff from the article isn't the details of the Fritzl case; it is a quote from Valerian Cioclei, Romania's Justice Ministry legal expert:
Not everything that is immoral has to be illegal…We cannot help these people by turning them into criminals and punishing them.
It's a good point, even if Cioclei slyly indicates that voluntary partners need "help" or correction. Romania would follow in the steps of France, Spain and Portugal by not prosecuting consenting adults for their bedroom activities. Naturally, there are plenty of concerned critics, ranging from psychologist to geneticists. The Vatican, however, has been rather mum, probably because it doesn't have a Lot to say on the issue.
Feel like hatin' on the motherfuckers who want to decriminalize incest? Rap along with Romania's Paraziti (The Parasites) below:
Check out Paraziti's "Down With Censorship," featuring Larry Flynt, here. More on incest at Reason here.
