Speaking at the annual marriage mass and renewal of vows at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia, Fisher said Catholics should respect and love all people, but that does not extend to accepting same-sex marriage.

"Marriage brings together...man and woman, sex and love, love and babies, parents and children," he told the congregation. "To say this is not to criticise anyone."

"To say marriage is special is not to demean these other realities, rather it respects the diverse ways of being human and loving, not pretending away the differences."