The Pope has confirmed he is to visit Britain

The Pope has confirmed he is to visit Britain

The Pope sparked a fresh row over the Government's flagship equality legislation after saying it could impose "unjust limitations" on religious freedom and "violate natural law".

In remarks interpreted as an attack on proposals to give gay people greater rights, Benedict said equality legislation could end up restricting worshippers from acting "in accordance with their beliefs".

His remarks came as he confirmed that he would make his first apostolic visit to Britain later this year.

The Pope told a gathering of the Catholic bishops of England and Wales in Rome: "Your country is well known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society.

"Yet, as you have rightly pointed out, the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs.

"In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed."

His remarks have been seen as criticism of the Equality Bill, which church leaders have warned could expose them to legal challenges if they refuse to employ sexually-active gay people and transsexuals.

It is also thought Sexual Orientation Regulations could force Catholic adoption agencies to consider gay couples as potential adoptive parents.

The Bill is currently going through Parliament and last week suffered defeats in the House of Lords over church leaders' concerns.

The Pope is widely expected to visit England and Scotland in a four-day trip between September 16 and September 19.