The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has joined other religious groups in speaking out against same-sex marriage.

The Republic of Ireland is set to vote on May 22 on a proposal to introduce civil same-sex marriage.

The Presbyterian Church, a Protestant denomination, released a statement saying: “The Presbyterian Church in Ireland upholds the historic – and Christian – view of marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman.

“We affirm that it is needed for the common good of society. In recognising the rights of all people within a democracy, we must include the rights of children, and the natural responsibilities of a father and a mother in their nurture.

“We believe the change proposed in the referendum denies these rights. A redefinition of marriage would establish new norms within our society, the implications of which have not been fully explored.

“We acknowledge that this is an intensely emotive subject and trust that all will engage in the debate with gentleness and respect as we approach the referendum.”

The Presbyterian Church in the United States voted earlier this year to allow same-sex marriage, and a church in New Zealand began performing same-sex marriages in 2012.

In February a group of faith organisations came together to support a “Yes” vote in the referendum.