A Catholic priest has apologised for joking during a sermon that true marriage can only be between Adam and Eve - not ''Adam and Steve''. Reverend Frank Wainwright, 48, a Deacon at St Gregory's Church in Cheltenham, Glos., made the controversial comment during a Sunday service.
He was preaching on the theme of marriage when he claimed that same-sex civil partnerships are not considered as marriage by the Catholic church.
But his ''flippant joke'' sparked five complaints from his congregation and has been branded as homophobic by gay and lesbian rights groups.
Rev Frank Wainwright, who lives in Cheltenham, Glos., apologised for causing any offence and claimed he is not ''homophobic''.
He said: ''The sermon was about marriage and I have no idea why all this has come up but someone has obviously complained.
''The comment is obviously not homophobic and it was just intended as a joke. My duty is to preach what the church preaches that marriage is between a man and a woman.
''I have plenty of gay friends and I have no problem at all with them but as a Catholic minister I must preach that marriage is between a man and woman and nothing else.
''I'm sure there are gay members of my congregation and I imagine it's one of them who complained but it certainly wasn't the thrust of my sermon.
''I can see why people are upset by the comment because it was flippant. I totally accept that I have caused offence and I am apologising for that.''
Rev Frank Wainwright delivered the 15-minute sermon on marriage at St Gregory's Church on January 17 this year.
He told his 200-strong congregation: ''Sometimes in our families we have situations that either surprise us or are not ideal.
''For example if your 15-year-old daughter comes home and says 'I'm pregnant' even if it's a shock and we disagree the first thing we should do to that person is hug them and let them know they are still family.
''Sometimes within the church we have to hold our heads above the parapet and say what we believe as Catholics and sometimes in saying that we will be marginalised and put down.
''For example, in adoption a child has a right to want a mother and father.
''That marriage is between a man and a woman and it's a life-long commitment and usually only ended by death, as it was in the beginning and ever shall be.
''Marriage is between Adam and Eve - not Adam and Steve.''
A spokesman for the Gloucestershire Gay and Lesbian Community group said Rev Frank Wainwright's words were ''poorly chosen'' but accepted his apology.
He said: ''I can understand why he has said it as there are canonic references.
''However, we are living in a different world and one would hope that anyone who is in a loving relationship would be accepted.
''In this country, it is legal for people of the same sex to enter into a civil partnership and that is not necessarily a religious relationship.
''But we appreciate he has apologised for the remark and we would not want to stir anything up.''
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