Gays and lesbians do not deserve legal recognition of their relationships, says the Catholic Church, because gays and lesbians must live with the consequences of their "choices". In a statement released by Catholic bishops in New Zealand this week and sent to all MPs as part of the Church's lobbying drive to stop the forthcoming Civil Union bill, the Church says the bill implies that other people have an obligation to approve whatever "choices" an individual makes. "We all have to live with the consequences of our choices, and sometimes the choices we make limit our other options and entitlements...Serious discussion on what makes marriage different from all other relationships should not be diverted or manipulated by accusations of 'anti-gay' or 'homophobic' or 'anti-choice' against those who defend the uniqueness of marriage."