The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has said he will be voting "No" in the same-sex marriage referendum.
He told a meeting of church media workers in Dublin he was breaking with precedent by announcing his voting intention in response to a claim that he had confused the press by his attitude and had given constant solace to the "Yes" campaign.
Archbishop Martin also said he found it interesting that many "Yes" supporters object to the use of religious language in the debate, but that they are not shy in quoting Pope Francis in support of their arguments.
He said his concerns about the referendum are the same fundamental concerns which Pope Francis outlined at a General Audience in the Vatican on 15 April this year.
He acknowledged that the harshness with which the Irish Church treated gay and lesbian people in the past, and in some cases still today, may make it hard for LGBT people to accept that he is sincere in what he is proposing.
