Bishop Charles Scicluna has warned Catholic MPs who vote in favour of the ‘gay marriage bill’ that they will be committing a “grave immoral act” in doing so.

Mgr Scicluna told the Church-run paper Avvenire that in the lead-up to the March general election, both political parties promised the world to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual(LGBT) communities.

Despite its misgivings about the Bill, Mgr Scicluna said the Church is close to all members of the community, including LGBT ones.

Mgr Scicluna said that Catcholic MPs have a moral duty to publicly express their opposition to the Bill.

The Bishop said that Pope Francis is disappointed with the Bill, in particular when it comes to adoptions by gay couples.