Members of the LGBT community in Hong Kong rally against discrimination and for equality and respect in this file photo. Some Christian groups say the principle of respect and non-discrimination should not be used in support of same-sex unions. (Photo by ucanews.com)

Hong Kong Diocese has criticized a lawmaker's proposal to amend a law so that same-sex couples married legally overseas can reclaim the ashes of their deceased partner from a columbaria — a place where urns are stored.

Cyd Ho Sau-lan, a lawmaker from the Labour Party, proposed an amendment to the Private Columbaria Bill on July 6 as the bill only allows "relatives" to retrieve ashes from a columbaria.

Same-sex marriages are not legal in Hong Kong so partners are not recognized as being relatives. The church sees the amendment as a move towards making same sex marriages legal in Hong Kong.

In the amendment, Ho suggested that same-sex spouses married outside Hong Kong should be included in the definition "relative."

"It is already very painful to be widowed. Why should anti-gay people suppress the right of a same-sex spouse to handle his or her partner's ashes? Why do anti-gays have such hatred?" Ho posted to Facebook July 6.

The Hong Kong Catholic Diocese and the Society for Truth and Light — a Protestant group known for their conservative stance against the LGBT community — promptly made a public statement to all members of the Legislative Council the next day.

The church is compassionate towards a deceased person's partner and understands their desire to retrieve the ashes, but has "reservations and can not agree" to the proposed amendment, said the diocese in a statement.

They said the Private Columbaria Bill should not touch on the gay marriage issue.

It would be wrong for the state to place same-sex spouses into a legal status that is similar to marriage and family. The principle of respect and non-discrimination should not be used in support of same-sex unions, the statement said.

Some LGBT groups have launched a signature campaign in support of the amendment, stressing that their request is "extremely humble," and that there is no ulterior motive regarding same-sex marriage.

"We hope those who oppose the amendment should look at the issue with empathy. Do not [let] it become an issue about legalizing same-sex marriage in Hong Kong," the LGBT community said.

Cases of same-sex spouses trying to claim the ashes of a deceased partner are rare "but the issue itself reflects how discussions on LGBT issues have turned irrational," a church worker who did not want to be named told ucanews.com.

"Pope Francis has reminded us many times that the church should offer pastoral concern to gay people. There seems to be a trend for people to turn a small issue into a big one," the church worker said.