Scottish cabinet debates same-sex marriage

Discussions on gay marriage are taking place among Scottish cabinet ministers today.

According to the Press Association, responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation on same-sex marriage are top of the agenda at today’s meeting in Edinburgh.

Some 80,000 people responded to the consultation, in which the Scottish Government said it “tends towards the view” that same-sex marriage should be legalised.

The Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland have both expressed their opposition to the proposals.

The head of the Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, reiterated his opposition to the proposals yesterday.

He pointed out that three times as many people had responded to the gay marriage consultation as had to the consultation on an independence referendum, which attracted 26,000 responses.

Cardinal O’Brien said: "Clearly, if it is sensible to hold a referendum on independence, it is crucial that we have one on marriage. It is the only way the country can move forward on this issue.

“Let all those who have a view on this subject place their trust in the Scottish people and let Scotland decide."

The Cardinal has given his backing to a fundraising drive in Scottish churches to raise £100,000 in support of the Scotland For Marriage campaign, which supports traditional marriage.

The Equality Network has rejected the Catholic Church’s call for a referendum on gay marriage, saying it would “go against the core principles of Scotland’s representative democracy”.