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Archbishop of Westminster attacks gay marriage plan Archbishop of Westminster attacks gay marriage plan
(about 2 hours later)
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has used his Christmas Eve sermon to attack the government's plans for gay marriage.The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has used his Christmas Eve sermon to attack the government's plans for gay marriage.
The Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, said the proposals were "undemocratic" and a "shambles". Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols called the plans a "shambles".
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Canterbury is to admit in his last sermon that the Church of England has been damaged by the recent vote against women bishops. Speaking at Westminster Cathedral, he said the government had no mandate to push through same-sex marriage laws.
Two weeks ago, the government unveiled plans to allow gay marriage in England and Wales but said no organisation would be forced to carry out services.
Meanwhile, the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury is to admit that the Church of England has been damaged by the recent vote against women bishops in his final Christmas sermon in the role.
Dr Rowan Williams is to retire from the post at the end of the month.Dr Rowan Williams is to retire from the post at the end of the month.
'Process is shambolic' 'Shambolic' process
Speaking to the congregation at Westminster Cathedral, Archbishop Nichols said the government had no mandate to push through any laws around same-sex marriage. During his midnight sermon, Archbishop Nichols said of the gay marriage plans: "There was no announcement in any party manifesto, no Green Paper, no statement in the Queen's Speech. And yet here we are on the verge of primary legislation.
"There was no announcement in any party manifesto, no Green Paper, no statement in the Queen's Speech. And yet here we are on the verge of primary legislation. "From a democratic point-of-view, it's a shambles. George Orwell would be proud of that manoeuvre, I think the process is shambolic."
"From a democratic point-of-view, it's a shambles.
"George Orwell would be proud of that manoeuvre, I think the process is shambolic," he said.
He claims during a "period of listening", those who responded were "7-1 against same-sex marriage".He claims during a "period of listening", those who responded were "7-1 against same-sex marriage".
In the past, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has likened committed gay relationships to "profound friendships".In the past, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has likened committed gay relationships to "profound friendships".
The government launched a 12-week consultation in March on whether same-sex couples should be allow to marry.
'Conflict and injustice'
Delivering his final Christmas Day message from Canterbury Cathedral as spiritual leader of the Church of England, Dr Williams meanwhile will acknowledge how the General Synod's vote against women becoming bishops has the damaged the Church's credibility.Delivering his final Christmas Day message from Canterbury Cathedral as spiritual leader of the Church of England, Dr Williams meanwhile will acknowledge how the General Synod's vote against women becoming bishops has the damaged the Church's credibility.
He will echo comments made in November, in which he said he believed the Church "lost a measure of credibility" after the vote.He will echo comments made in November, in which he said he believed the Church "lost a measure of credibility" after the vote.
He said at the time the Church had "considerable" work to do both internally and externally to re-establish the Church's standing in the eyes of both the secular and Christian communities.He said at the time the Church had "considerable" work to do both internally and externally to re-establish the Church's standing in the eyes of both the secular and Christian communities.
"We have, to put it very bluntly, a lot of explaining to do," Dr Williams added.
More positively, he will also cite census data which showed 59% of Britons still view themselves as Christian.
Dr Williams is also expected to list some of the people he has had the "privilege" to meet during the past decade, in his sermon.
He will pay tribute to "the parents who have lost a child to gang violence, the wife who has seen her husband killed in front of her by an anti-Christian mob in India, the woman who has struggled for years to comprehend and accept the rape and murder of her sister.
"The Israeli and Palestinian friends who have been brought together by the fact that they have lost family members in the conflict and injustice that still racks the Holy Land - all these are specific people I have had the privilege of meeting as Archbishop over these ten years."
He will acknowledge their "willingness to explore the new humanity of forgiveness and rebuilding relations" despite their own suffering.
"These are the ones who make us see, who oblige us to turn aside and look, as if at a bush burning but not consumed," he will add.
Dr Williams, along with his successor the Bishop of Durham Justin Welby and the Archbishop of York John Sentamu, are to "live tweet" their Christmas sermons on the micro-blogging site Twitter.Dr Williams, along with his successor the Bishop of Durham Justin Welby and the Archbishop of York John Sentamu, are to "live tweet" their Christmas sermons on the micro-blogging site Twitter.
The senior clerics are expected to be joined by around 16,000 Church members tweeting on Christmas morning. The senior clerics are expected to be joined by about 16,000 Church members tweeting on Christmas morning.
Bishop Welby, a former oil industry executive, was announced as successor to Dr Williams in November.Bishop Welby, a former oil industry executive, was announced as successor to Dr Williams in November.
Dr Williams will soon take up the post of Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge. He will also chair the board of trustees at charity Christian Aid.