Scottish Catholic Observer

The postcards will be distributed in parishes this weekend and will each have a space for people to sign their name so they can post it to their MP.

The text says that marriage is the ‘foundation of the family’ and upholds the common good. It does not say anything about same-sex relationships.

Accompanying the cards will be a letter to all parish priests signed by Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark, chairman of the bishops’ Department of Christian Responsibility and Citizenship.

In it, the archbishop says: “My purpose in writing is to ask you to urge the members of your congregation to make their own views known to their MP. To assist them in doing that we have printed postcards ‘speak out for marriage’ and a bundle of these are with this letter.”

“Parishioners simply need to add the name of their own local MP to the address on the front of the card, and their own name and address below the text on the back,” the archbishop explains. “Please can you put up the enclosed posters, let your parishioners know the name(s) of your local MP, and strongly encourage your parishioners to send the cards and to give them to their friends to send in as well. 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.”

A similar postcard campaign successfully raised the profile of opposition to same-sex ‘marriage’ in Scotland.