'Gay marriage' advances further

U.K. bishops decry outcome of first of three votes

Archbishop Peter Smith at a press conference in Rome in 2010.
CNS photo / Paul Haring.

Here is a Catholic News Agency story about the passage of a bill allowing same-sex "marriage" the U.K.'s House of Commons. Catholic bishops have warned that the legislation will have profoundly negative effects on society.

"Marriage is rooted in the complementarity of man and woman. For these reasons the Church opposes the government's bill to redefine marriage," said Archbishop Peter D. Smith of Southwark Feb. 5.

Late in the day Feb. 5, the lower house of the British Parliament voted in favour of the Marriage Bill, allowing marriage for same-sex couples. It passed by 400 to 175, and was backed by prime minister David Cameron.

For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.