Ym mis Mawrth 2012 dechreuodd Llywodraeth Glymblaid y DU ymgynghori ynghylch newidiadau arfaethedig i’r diffiniad cyfreithiol o briodas a fyddai’n rhoi’r hawl i gyplau o’r un rhyw briodi.  Roedd llythyr yr Archesgobion yn nodi gweledigaeth yr Eglwys Gatholig o briodas, gan ganolbwyntio ar y berthynas rhwng gŵr a gwraig. Mewn e-bost esboniadol, gofynnwyd i benaethiaid ysgolion ystyried gofyn i’w staff a’u disgyblion feddwl a oeddent am lofnodi deiseb ar-lein gan sefydliad o’r enw 'y Gynghrair o blaid Priodas’ (the Coalition for Marriage) sy’n cefnogi’r diffiniad presennol o briodas. Mae gwefan y ddeiseb yn datgan yn glir mai dim ond pobl 16 oed neu’n hŷn sydd â hawl i lofnodi’r ddeiseb. Gofynnwyd hefyd i’r penaethiaid ystyried darllen y llythyr i’r disgyblion a’r staff yn eu gwasanaethau ysgol neu drefnu iddo gael ei ddefnyddio mewn gwersi perthnasol. Mae’n anffodus nad oedd yr e-bost gwreiddiol ar 10 Mawrth yn datgan yn glir taw dim ond pobl dros 16 oed ddylai lofnodi’r ddeiseb ar-lein, ac rwy’n falch bod Gwasanaeth Addysg yr Eglwys Gatholig wedi egluro hyn bellach.
In March 2012 the Coalition Government commenced a consultation on proposed changes to the legal definition of marriage so as to open the institution of marriage to same sex partnerships. The Archbishops’ letter set out the Roman Catholic Church’s vision of marriage which focused on the relationship between a husband and wife. In a covering e-mail, head teachers were asked to consider asking staff and pupils to themselves consider signing the Coalition for Marriage’s on-line petition to support the existing definition of marriage. This petition is only intended for signature by those aged 16 or over as the petition website makes clear. Head teachers were also asked to consider reading the letter out at school or class assemblies and arranging for its use in appropriate classes. It is unfortunate that the original e-mail of 10 March did not make it clear that only persons aged 16 or over should sign the on-line petition, and I am pleased that the CES has now clarified this.