Controversy about Nuncio's statement

last summer the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith headed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger stated unequivocally that all Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions. The Congregation added that politicians have a moral duty to oppose clearly and publicly, and if the need arises, to vote against such unions.

"Legal recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same level as marriage would mean the approval of deviant behaviour." It made clear voting in favour of such unions would be "gravely immoral".

No mincing of words. After all, the Church has been consistent on this matter. While declaring that men and women with homosexual tendencies are not guilty of any misdemeanour, those who indulge in homosexual activity are guilty of grave mortal sin. This rules out completely any form of approval of same-sex so-called marriages.

Hence it must have come as a shock when recently the Papal Nuncio to Spain said, while addressing Spanish bishops, that although marriage means the union of man and woman "there are other forms of cohabitation and it is good that they be recognised".

The Nuncio, Archbishop Castro, told the bishops that same-sex unions should not be called marriages but "other arrangements should be given other names". In Mgr Castro's view cohabiting gay couples should have such rights as social security benefits, enjoyed by married couples.

The Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Rouco Verala, was quick to dissociate himself from the papal nuncio. He told the Spanish bishops' conference that he would not support the nuncio's views.

He emphasised that marriage contributes to the growth and stability of society as a structure for bringing up children, adding that homosexual cohabitation can never fulfil that role and hence it cannot be credited with the same said function as marriage and the family which are based on the union between man and woman.

It is not known whether any action has been taken by the Vatican against the Nuncio. It will be very surprising if the Pope's representative in Spain will be allowed to get away with statements which run counter to official positions taken by the Church.