A ruling by the European Court of Justice requiring member states to recognise same-sex marriages completed in other EU nations has been criticised by Catholic leaders.

In a statement, the presidency of the Commission of the Episcopates of the European Union (COMECE) said the ruling contradicts EU guarantees of the autonomy of national judiciaries to determine their own policies on matters such as marriage and family life.

They said it also opens the door to further skepticism and hostility toward Europe at a time when the continent’s role in global affairs is facing unprecedented challenges.

“We note with worry the trend to apply provisions that should protect sensitive components of national legal systems in a way that impoverishes their meaning,” COMECE said following a meeting on the matter.

The ruling is problematic because it imposes acceptance of same-sex marriage, even on more traditional member states, for many of whom “the definition of marriage forms part of their national identity.”