The Catholic Church is to take no further action over Cardinal Keith O'Brien's admission of inappropriate "sexual conduct", following accusations from four priests.
Lord Alderdice, the predecessor to David Ford, the current leader of Northern Ireland's Alliance Party, has said that Ford has been treated harshly by his church over his equal marriage support.
Just four days after France's Parliament passed a bill to allow equal marriage and adoption for gay couples, the first wedding trade show aimed at gay male couples took place.
An independent Australian MP has proposed that the issue of equal marriage be put to voters in a referendum, as soon as this September, in a move supported by the Green Party.