In the very place where Roman Catholicism was born, homosexuals are one step away from being allowed to have civil unions—a direct assault to teachings in the Holy Bible about marriage being exclusive only to men and women.

In an unexpected overwhelming vote, a chamber of Italy's legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, approved a bill instituting civil unions for gay couples. With this, homosexual unions are now close to being allowed in the entire Eastern Europe.

Despite widespread opposition especially from the Roman Catholic Church, a total of 369 lawmakers voted to approve the bill. Only 193 lawmakers stood up for the Holy Bible's teachings and opposed the bill.

Although the unions will not be called "marriage," they will confer many of the rights and privileges of marriage, with the exception of the right to adopt, which may still be awarded by judges on a case-by-case basis.

Roman Catholic Church leaders and conservative Italian politicians lamented the Chamber of Deputies' approval of the gay civil unions bill.

Monsignor Nunzio Galantino, secretary-general of the Italian bishops' conference, described the legislature's vote as a "defeat for everyone."

He also urged the electorate to pick politicians who will protect family values.

"[There is a] need for politicians that are more attentive, and who truly acknowledge the centrality of the family, made up of a mother, father, and children," Galantino said, as quoted by LifeSite News.

Archbishop Michele Pennisi meanwhile described the bill favouring homosexuals as an act of "creeping fascism" by the Italian government.

The secretary of Italy's Northern League party, Matteo Salvini, for his part went as far as calling on League party mayors to disobey the impending law on gay civil unions.,

"It's a misguided law, the anteroom to homosexual adoption," Salvini told the Italian news agency ANSA.

Italy's Senate already approved the same measure allowing gay civil unions last February. The legislature supported the bill despite a recent poll showing that less than half of Italians, or 46 percent of the population, favour such a legislation.

With this, it is now up to Italian President Sergio Mattarella to either pass or veto the bill, with the latter scenario deemed as highly unlikely.