Scottish Catholic Observer

Cardinal Keith O’Brien has issued his hardest-hitting warning to date on the consequences of legalising same-sex ‘marriage’ in the UK.

The cardinal has said that a redefinition of marriage would result in ‘shaming our country,’ and would be a ‘violation of human rights’ and appear ‘grotesque to some people.’

His strong comments will give a boost to the bishops of England and Wales as they launch their own campaign against the UK Government’s plan to launch a consultation on legalising same sex ‘marriage’ this month.

Cardinal O’Brien, who is leading the fight against the Scottish Government’s plans to redefine marriage in Scotland, said that the UK Government’s suggestion that religious bodies need not participate in same sex ceremonies was ‘disingenuous’ and ‘staggeringly arrogant.’

“Redefining marriage will have huge implications for what is taught in our schools, and for wider society,” the cardinal, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, warned in a London newspaper article.

The cardinal hopes that his message will be heard by all MPs, including Scottish MPs, who will be able to vote on any proposal to legalise same-sex ‘marriage’ brought forward by the coalition government.

In a message that will have a strong resonance in Scotland, where the results of the Nationalist Government’s consultation on legalising same-sex ‘marriage’ have been delayed until at least April to process the huge response, the cardinal said a redefinition of marriage would have terrible consequences.

“Imagine for a moment that the government had decided to legalise slavery but assured us that ‘no one will be forced to keep a slave,’” he said. “Would such worthless assurances calm our fury?”

In a subsequent radio interview, responding to those who claimed his remarks were inflammatory, the cardinal stated this was not the case.

“I think it’s handing on the teaching of the Christian Church for more than 2000 years and I am doing my best to hand it on in a way that many people can hear it,” he said.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster is to urge the Catholics of England and Wales to petition their MPs to reject any change to the legal definition of marriage.

A letter from the archbishop, to be read out at all parishes in England and Wales this Sunday, will warn that any change to who is allowed to marry would be a ‘profoundly radical step’ stripping marriage of its ‘distinctive nature.’

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