A Catholic charity devoted to marriage and relationships has assured
the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales that it does not offer
"marriage preparation" to same-sex couples wishing to enter civil
partnerships.At a meeting at the end of last month, Marriage Care and the bishops' conference discussed the hierarchy's concerns over the charity's work with same-sex couples.
In a statement a spokesman for the bishops' conference said that at the meeting, "Marriage Care was able to assure the bishops' conference secretariat that its marriage preparation service does not prepare same-sex couples for civil partnerships."
But the statement added that Marriage Care confirmed that its counselling service is offered in "accordance with Catholic teaching" and is open to all, regardless of sexual orientation.