Bishops warn of consequences of same-sex partnerships in Britain

Published: 2003-10-01

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) -- Catholic bishops in England and Wales warned that government proposals to recognize same-sex partnerships could have serious long-term consequences. The bishops' conference submitted an eight-page response to the government's consultation on the proposals Oct. 1. The bishops argued that the government's proposals would undermine marriage because the institution would no longer hold a privileged place. "The signal the law would send to rising generations is that marriage as husband and wife and a same-sex relationship are equally valid options and an equally valid context for the upbringing of children," they said. "By publicly elevating same-sex relationships to a legal status virtually equivalent to civil marriage, the signal given to society would be that these two states of life are equally deserving of public protection and respect, when in fact they are not," they said.

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