Bishop urges politicians to back marriage to halt 'near catastrophic decline'
A county bishop says he wants politicians to make "the promotion of marriage" a key part their election campaigns.
The Rev Mark Davies, Shrewsbury's Catholic Bishop, made the comments following the annual diocesan mass in celebration of marriage – which took place in Chester.
At the mass he voiced his belief that the “single most important factor” in the flourishing of children was the stability of the relationship of their parents.
Addressing a congregation which was celebrating a collective 1,970 years of marriage, the bishop said marriage has been 'diminished' in recent years to one of many "lifestyle choices" instead of being recognised as the "bedrock" of society.
The bishop voiced his belief that the harm caused by family breakdown must lead “our elected representatives to have the courage and responsibility to recognise the central place of marriage in securing the good of society and of new generations."
