Marriage Care head praises civil partnerships

Briefing. This will not surprise readers who have seen our dossier on Marriage Care. This organisation is still listed the Catholic Directory.

From CFNews: Terry Prendergast, chief executive of Marriage Care says that the graces of the sacrament might also be found in other forms of relationships than heterosexual marriage.

In a speech to the Roman Catholic Caucus of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement Mr Prendergast said: 'I have been thinking more and more of the sacrament of relationships, rather than the sacrament of marriage, if we are to believe that God's presence is expressed through all committed and loving relationships.

'It is my belief that the sacrament is present where you have love, commitment, consent, and covenant,' he said. 'On this basis I wonder how it is possible for anyone to make an adverse judgment about such relationships'.

But Victoria Gillick, the Catholic family campaigner, called for his resignation. 'He should go.' she said. 'Children do best within marriage and marriage is good for men and women but for the last 20 years it has not been at the forefront of Government policies and fewer people are getting married and more children are suffering. It really has to be explained, defended and supported by the 'best hearts and minds in the Catholic Church. ' [Catholic Herald]