Letter from Ian Quayle of Garden House, Fownhope, Hereford says married couples don’t all do this

But the argument could easily work the other way: because “traditional” marriage has only been between heterosexual couples, that is where most procreation happens to have taken place.

It seems to me that the majority of people who get married do so primarily because they love each other, not because they merely have an overwhelming desire to procreate. If they are of child bearing age then most want to have children and if they are also fertile then they will.

But many couples marrying are infertile, unwilling, or past the age of child bearing.

R Garvey must feel that marriages in the latter group are less worthy than those in the former.

The preface to the Church of England wedding service mentions the word “love” three times, as well as trust, delight, tenderness, joyful commitment, unity, loyalty and honour. It also says that marriage “enriches society and strengthens community”.

Even as an atheist, I could not agree more with all of that. There is only one reference to children and that refers to their nurturing – the inclusion of the word “born” is optional.

Many homosexual couples now raise children successfully, either through adoption, donation or surrogacy. Although this is a relatively recent phenomenon, research has shown that children brought up in such households are as well adjusted and healthy as the children of heterosexual parents.

In terms of their love, caring, loyalty, tenderness and commitment, I see little difference between the relationships of the heterosexual and the homosexual couples whom I know.

It is love that matters most of all: love, not procreation.

If homosexual couples love one another and want to celebrate this with a formal marriage, why would anyone wish to prevent them?

IAN QUAYLE, Garden House, Fownhope.