Marriage Care head
sees grace in same-sex relationships
By Simon Caldwell
15 May 2009

The Church must begin to think in terms of the "sacrament of relationships" rather than the sacrament of marriage, the head of a leading Catholic marriage agency has said.

Terry Prendergast, chief executive of Marriage Care, said 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... who can argue with the presence of grace and sacrament therein? Who is in a position to say that such a spiritual and graceful life is only available to heterosexuals?"

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."