Scottish cardinal breaks off talks with government on same-sex marriage

August 21, 2012

Cardinal Keith O’Brien of Edinburgh has ended talks with the Scottish government on a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage.

The cardinal took action after the government rejected his plea for a public referendum on the issue. Polls have shown that two-thirds of Scotland’s people oppose the government’s plan.

A spokesman for Cardinal O’Brien said that the prelate had tried to maintain a constructive dialogue with the government, but “that can be difficult when you feel that everything you have had to say, to date at least, has been completely ignored.”

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond issued a statement responding to the cardinal’s action, saying that “this is an honest disagreement over policy.” A spokesman added that “Mr. Salmond holds the cardinal in the highest regard and will always do so.”

 

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Further information:

• Scottish cardinal snubs government in 'same-sex marriage' row (CNA)
• Scotland rejects cardinal’s call for gay-marriage referendum (CWN, 7/18)