Portugal's parliament rejected two motions Friday that would have allowed same-sex marriages in the conservative Roman Catholic country.

The motions, proposed by two minor opposition parties, the Left Bloc and the Green party, failed to garner many votes in the 230-seat legislature.

The Left Bloc motion received only 11 votes, while the Green party motion won the support of 17 voters. Both parties had said the Portuguese constitution provides equal rights for all and protects against discrimination.

The ruling Socialist party, which has a majority, and the main opposition Social Democratic party voted down the motions. They have said they are opposed to legalizing gay and lesbian marriages.

Last year, the Socialist party legalized abortion, saying the move was needed to help modernize Portugal, but it said a national debate would have to occur before it would contemplate any change in the law to allow same-sex marriages.

"A change of this depth and complexity should be made only after a considered discussion and after broad support has built up for it in Portuguese society, inside and outside political parties, so that a clear and unequivocal political undertaking can be given," the Socialist party declared.

Only three European Union countries — the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain — allow gay marriage.

Two lesbians in Portugal tried to marry two years ago, but registry office officials in Lisbon refused to allow the union, saying the law stipulates that marriage must be between a man and a woman.

They challenged the law, but a Lisbon court rejected the challenge and the women appealed the case to the Supreme Court. No date has been scheduled for a verdict.