Ireland’s Catholic bishops have called for a free vote in the Dáil and Seanad on the Government’s controversial Civil Partnership Bill.

In a statement released after their annual summer meeting, they appealed to the Government “to support a free vote for all members of Dáil Éireann and the Seanad on this Bill as it passes through the Houses of the Oireachtas”.

A cross party group of Senators, including Fianna Fáil Senators John Hanafin and Jim Walsh and Fine Gael’s John Paul Phelan, have called for a free vote

However, a spokesperson for the Green Party said the question of a free vote did not arise in how legislative business was done, according to an RTE report.

The statement also called on the Government to amend the Bill to protect those who may have conscientious objections to same-sex civil unions.

The bishops called on TDs and Senators “to allow for greater recognition of the proper autonomy of Churches and the right to social and civil freedom in religious matters”.

This included “the right of individuals to the free exercise of conscience”

“The current Bill, by exposing Civil Registrars to a fine and/or imprisonment should they act in accordance with their conscience on the matter of same-sex unions, undermines this cherished principle of a free and diverse society and imposes unjust limits on the ‘freedom of conscience and free expression and practice of religion’ guaranteed to every citizen in Article 44.2.1 of Bunreacht Na hÉireann,” the statement said.

The statement also said that the Bill was not compatible with the State’s constitutional duty to protect marriage.

The bishops pointed out that the Bill sought to “give same-sex relationships a standing which will be as similar as possible to marriage”.

They said: “The Civil Partnership Bill will not permit adoption by same-sex couples. In most other respects, including tax and social welfare purposes, same-sex civil partnerships will be regarded as being equal to marriage.

“This is not compatible with seeing the family based on marriage as the necessary basis of the social order and as indispensable to the welfare of the Nation and State. Nor does it ‘guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded.’” (Art. 41.3.1, Bunreacht na hÉireann).

The statement comes as the Bill reaches its final stages in the Oireachtas. The Tanáiste has confirmed in the Dáil that the Government expects to have the Bill through the Dáil before the summer recess.

Mary Coughlan said that the Government intended to bring it to the House after it has been passed by the Seanad.

Meanwhile Green Party leader John Gormley has warned the Bishops not to become involved with the debate over the Bill.

Mr Gormley said that when he read the bishops’ statement he was “taken aback”.

Speaking on RTÉ’s News At One, Mr Gormley said he “thought we had left the era of church interference behind us”.

The Church, Mr Gormley continued, “should concentrate its efforts on looking after the spiritual needs of its flock, and not intrude into temporal or State matters”.

RTÉ presenter Sean O’Rourke asked whether Mr Gormley’s statement was “a proper democratic attitude”. Mr Gormley responded by questioning “the sort of democracy and the sort of freedom of conscience that you have within the Church itself”.