He urged them to capitalize on the decision by all three main party leaders to
allow free votes on the matter and increase pressure on their local MPs to
halt such a “fundamental change in the law”.
A million postcards, designed for Catholics to complete and send to their MP asking them to vote against the Government’s plan, were distributed at masses over the weekend.
The issue to due to come up for a vote in the Commons as early as February 5.
It would open the way for the first same-sex weddings to take place as early as the beginning of next year.
In a letter on behalf of bishops, Archbishop Smith, the second most senior
active Catholic cleric in England and Wales, told priests: “The time to act
is now.”
Welcoming the planned free vote, he wrote: “It is therefore particularly important at this time for all MPs to be made aware of the strength of feeling on this issue among their own constituents, and the Bishops have received requests from a number of laity about mobilising further action. The first key vote is likely to take place in early February so the time to act is now. We need to encourage as many people as possible to get involved. Please do all you can.”
Supporters of the change have also begun a last-minute lobbying campaign.
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay rights group Stonewall, urged supporters to “speak now or forever hold your peace”.
He said: “Supporters of this modest measure mustn’t let a vocal minority block equality. People must write to, tweet, email or call their MPs to ask them for their support before the Bill’s Second Reading debate on February 5.”
The Government’s “Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill” was published on Friday outlining details of how a raft of existing marriage laws are to be amended to include same-sex couples.
The only surprise in the bill was a clause making it impossible for gay or lesbian people who marry to divorce on grounds of adultery.
Lawyers and MPs said the distinction created inequality between heterosexual and homosexual couples in the divorce courts and could ultimately lead to he abolition of the centuries-old concept of adultery.
It came after Government legal experts failed to agree what constitutes “sex” between people of the same gender.
Gay couples will also be barred from having their marriage annulled on grounds of non-consummation for the same reason.
Previously the Coalition had signalled that the matter would be left to the courts to decide, potentially leaving the issue uncertain for years.
But officials drafting the bill sidestepped the issue saying simply that adultery would only apply to people of different sexes.
Opponents say the decision shows how gay marriage could open the way for a wider reassessment of marriage laws, something they claimed could be a potential “Pandora’s Box”.
Welcoming the planned free vote, he wrote: “It is therefore particularly important at this time for all MPs to be made aware of the strength of feeling on this issue among their own constituents, and the Bishops have received requests from a number of laity about mobilising further action. The first key vote is likely to take place in early February so the time to act is now. We need to encourage as many people as possible to get involved. Please do all you can.”
Supporters of the change have also begun a last-minute lobbying campaign.
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay rights group Stonewall, urged supporters to “speak now or forever hold your peace”.
He said: “Supporters of this modest measure mustn’t let a vocal minority block equality. People must write to, tweet, email or call their MPs to ask them for their support before the Bill’s Second Reading debate on February 5.”
The Government’s “Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill” was published on Friday outlining details of how a raft of existing marriage laws are to be amended to include same-sex couples.
The only surprise in the bill was a clause making it impossible for gay or lesbian people who marry to divorce on grounds of adultery.
Lawyers and MPs said the distinction created inequality between heterosexual and homosexual couples in the divorce courts and could ultimately lead to he abolition of the centuries-old concept of adultery.
It came after Government legal experts failed to agree what constitutes “sex” between people of the same gender.
Gay couples will also be barred from having their marriage annulled on grounds of non-consummation for the same reason.
Previously the Coalition had signalled that the matter would be left to the courts to decide, potentially leaving the issue uncertain for years.
But officials drafting the bill sidestepped the issue saying simply that adultery would only apply to people of different sexes.
Opponents say the decision shows how gay marriage could open the way for a wider reassessment of marriage laws, something they claimed could be a potential “Pandora’s Box”.