Archbishop Longley welcomes Royal Wedding as a demonstration of Christian values

Archbishop Longely - with new Royal Wedding stamps.

Archbishop Bernard Longley used the occasion of the annual Easter Monday Men's Mass, at the Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of St Chad, Birmingham, to emphasise that the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton offers an opportunity for people to learn again the values that underpin Christian marriage.

The Archbishop of Birmingham was the principal celebrant and preacher at the Mass promoted and organised by the Catholic Men's Society that has taken place each year since 1919.

In his Easter Monday homily, Archbishop Longley said: "The family is central to the life of the Church and it is the building-block of our society. The family’s well-being and its ability to provide a stable foundation for life are also central to the well-being of the society in which we live. It has an influence on the quality of the contribution that we can make to commercial and civic life.

"Family life also has its impact on our education, and resources need to be dedicated in schools to understanding and dealing with the issues that arise from family life."

The Archbishop of Birmingham said: "As families we can see some of the tensions that people of faith experience today between living their faith as a personal and private reality of their lives - where the home and church are natural settings for practising our faith - and the call to live our faith in the public forum - allowing faith vales to influence the professional decisions taken.

Archbishop Longley stressed: "There are those who would prefer to see faith as an entirely private activity, limited in its scope and not allowed to play any part in politics, business or the provision of services. But that ignores something that is central to belief in God and in the way of life to which he calls us.

"Christian faith in the risen Christ has its impact at every level of human existence and activity. The values and beliefs that influence our decisions at home also guide our decisions at work."

Archbishop Bernard Longley concluded: "Marriage and family life go side by side in the Christian tradition. Despite the alternative lifestyles that are common, marriage continues to appeal with its strong emphasis on faithfulness and commitment as a good foundation for family life.

"The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton offers an opportunity for people to learn again the values that underpin Christian marriage."