The Catholic Church has indicated it will oppose the
gay marriage referendum, saying any change to the nature of marriage
would "undermine" it as the fundamental building block of society.
In a statement from the Catholic Communications Office, Bishop
Denis Nulty said the Catholic Church will continue to hold that the
differences between a man and woman are "not accidental to marriage but
fundamental to it".
He says that children have a "natural right to
a mother and a father" and that this is the best environment for them
where possible.
"Married love is a unique form of love between a
man and woman which has a special benefit for the whole of society. With
others of no particular religious view, the Church regards the family
based on marriage between a woman and a man as the single most important
institution in any society.
"To change the nature of marriage
would be to undermine it as the fundamental building block of our
society. The Church will therefore participate fully in the democratic
debate leading up to the referendum and will seek with others to
reaffirm the rational basis for holding that marriage should be reserved
for the unique and complimentary relationship between a woman and a man
from which the generation and upbringing of children is uniquely
possible," he said.
Bishop Denis Nulty is Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin and a member of the national executive of Accord, Catholic
Marriage Care Service