The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has likened same-sex relationships to profound friendships.Appearing on Newsnight last night, Vincent Nichols made the comment as part of an on-going national debate about gay marriage.
When asked how he would respond to a gay Catholic couple who wanted a religious marriage ceremony, Nichols said: "I would want to say to them that I understand their desires, that I understand their experience of love is vitally important in their lives, but I would want to say to them that they are called in my view, in the Church's view, to a very profound friendship in life.
"I would want them to be respected, but I would want them to have a vision in themselves that what they are called to is not marriage but a very profound and lifelong friendship."
He added that he was ?utterly astonished? that the government consultation on gay marriage (which launched yesterday), does not reference children.?What society says, I believe, is the best circumstances for conceiving and bringing up children is the partnership between two natural parents. That?s why the law is there to protect marriage and that?s why the change in the definition of marriage affects everybody,? he added.
Home Office minister Nick Herbert claimed he was disappointed in Nichols' view on same-sex weddings, but argued that he did not wish to dictate to him how the church should operate.
"I don't seek to dictate to the Archbishop what happens inside his Church, what standards he sets and what he seeks to do," he said.
"It would be quite wrong for me or the state to do so. But equally I wonder why he should seek to dictate the institution of civil marriage outside of his Church which is not a matter for the Church."?
As reported on PinkPaper.com yesterday, both Theresa May and Lynn Featherstone vowed to push through gay marriage legislation regardless of the church's opposition.
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