Archbishop backs rights for same-sex couples

The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin appears to have given his backing for the legal rights of co-habiting couples, including same-sex couples, to be addressed.

The Archdiocese of Dublin today stood over the comments made by Dr Diarmuid Martin but refused to confirm whether they constituted a call on the Government to take action on the issue.

Dr Martin's comments broadly relate to couples in a caring relationship which create dependency, but he said he did not "exclude gay relationships."

"I have a wide range of relationships in mind, I do not exclude gay relationships but my main concern is with all relationships where dependencies have come into being," said Dr Martin. The Archbishop was unavailable for comment today as he is out of the country.

His comments, to the Irish Independent, are the first of their kind from such a high profile member of the Church and come as pressure grows on the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to address the issue.

Mr Ahern outlined his views on the subject in an interview on RTÉ on Sunday night, when he said he had talked to many of the gay community and people who are in same-sex relationships.

"The issue that they raise with me, they say we want more equality and we want to be treated fairer," he said.  "I agree with that. I totally agree with that."

"These people who are in relationships which are not illegal, they're not immoral, they're not improper . . . we should try deal with some of the issues they have to surmount in their daily lives. And I think that's the fairest, caring and Christian way to deal with this."

Fine Gael spokesperson on social welfare and equality, Senator Sheila Terry, yesterday called on the Taoiseach to stop "mouthing platitudes" and give same-sex couples the "equality they deserve."