GLASGOW (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Thomas Winning of Glasgow Monday stressed the importance of marriage to society after the European Parliament resolved to give same-sex partnerships the same rights as married couples.

    A Vatican communique, published on Friday, said that recognizing same-sex unions in this way would be "a serious error" and that "legislators and especially Catholic parliamentarians must not favor with their vote this type of legislation since it runs contrary to the common good."

    Nora Radcliffe, an influential Member of the Scottish Parliament has already voiced her backing for the legislation. But Cardinal Winning yesterday warned the Scottish Parliament against following the example of their European colleagues.

    "We know attempts are being made to redefine the family to include same sex relationships and that the ultimate aim is to have these arrangements recognized by law," he said. "This alarms all families in Scotland. The marriage-based family is the foundation stone on which this nation has been built."