The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Revd Vincent Nichols, warned of “damaging consequences” if the institution of marriage is no longer limited to couples of different genders.
He also insisted that the possibility of having children should be central to the meaning of marriage and emphasised that Catholic teaching on marriage chimed with that of other major religions.
The Archbishop’s comments came at an annual mass in Westminster Cathedral to celebrate marriage.
More than 500 couples all celebrating major wedding anniversaries – with a combined total of 31,850 years of marriage between them – were invited to the blessing and renew to their commitment.
This year the event fell during the public consultation on the Government’s plans to allow gay couples to marry, something to which the Archbishop has publicly voiced opposition.
He described marriage as the best place for children to be brought up and singled out for special praise those who had chosen to adopt or foster.
But he added: “Today marriage is sometimes thought of, and presented, without any reference to children at all. Today sexual activity is often approved and even promoted separated entirely from marriage. Today marriage is proposed by some without any reference to the sexual complementarity of the genders. Today children are created outside the key enduring relationship of father and mother and then live without a link with their natural father and mother and their natural siblings. The Church’s teaching holds together marriage, sexual relationships and the generation and raising of children. When separated from the bonds of this interconnectedness, these three powerful aspects of human living are driven further apart from each other, with damaging consequences. The teaching of the Church, and of other great religions, is a lasting insight and proclamation of what is best and true about humanity and of what is best for our society. Thank you for giving voice and witness to that teaching in the faithfulness and joy of your lives.”
But he added: “Today marriage is sometimes thought of, and presented, without any reference to children at all. Today sexual activity is often approved and even promoted separated entirely from marriage. Today marriage is proposed by some without any reference to the sexual complementarity of the genders. Today children are created outside the key enduring relationship of father and mother and then live without a link with their natural father and mother and their natural siblings. The Church’s teaching holds together marriage, sexual relationships and the generation and raising of children. When separated from the bonds of this interconnectedness, these three powerful aspects of human living are driven further apart from each other, with damaging consequences. The teaching of the Church, and of other great religions, is a lasting insight and proclamation of what is best and true about humanity and of what is best for our society. Thank you for giving voice and witness to that teaching in the faithfulness and joy of your lives.”