Scottish cardinal: Urge politicians to support Christian marriage

Published: 2006-01-03

LONDON (CNS) -- A Scottish cardinal urged Catholics to encourage their politicians to support the model of Christian marriage. Cardinal Keith O'Brien of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, criticized what he saw as trends in media, entertainment, law and politics eroding the traditional family. He said marriage is no longer seen as a social institution which is "uniquely capable of providing stability, producing children and providing the complementary roles of mother and father" but is reinterpreted merely as one of a number of private relationships. "It is true that divorce is widespread, sexual relationships outside of marriage and cohabitation are also widespread; they have become the social norms with many damaging consequences," he said in a New Year's Day Mass homily at St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh.

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