Scotland has become the 17th country to legalize Gay Marriage.  Holyrood MPs have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a same-sex marriage bill, allowing the first such ceremonies to take place by the end of the year.

“We have always maintained at the heart of this issue there is one simple fact: a marriage is about love,” said Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil.  “All couples in Scotland in a loving relationship must know that they have the same rights and responsibilities and, regardless of their gender, the same opportunity to get married.”

But while Neil called the bill's approval “one of the great historic days of the parliament,” the two main churches – the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church – have opposed marriage equality.  They organized ministers and mullahs from other faiths to get 54,000 signatures on a petition against it.

The bill was passed Tuesday by 105 votes to 18.  Under the bill, religious bodies in Scotland that wish to perform gay marriages can "opt in" to do so.  Groups opposed to same-sex marriage cannot be forced to solemnize such unions.