The Irish State should be able to find a way to protect the civil rights of gay people without undermining the meaning of marriage

Thats the view of the Bishop of Limerick Dr Brendan Leahy, whose letter was distributed at Churches across the Diocese of Limerick this weekend.

Bishop Leahy warned that the proposed "major shift" in the Constitution will have implications for the role of marriage and family, but urged both sides to remain respectful of each other's view.

Bishop Leahy's been outlining why he individually, and as a signatory of the statement from the Bishops' Conference, cannot support this amendment to the Constitution.