The new Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh says Scottish Catholics may in future have to marry in a civil ceremony as well as in Church.
Archbishop Leo Cushely said two separate ceremonies, which couples in a number of European countries attend, could be necessary if the Church is to avoid legal challenges over gay marriage.
"It's not impossible to imagine such a thing here in the future [marrying in two ceremonies]. It is, at least, an option that may have to be contemplated," he told The Scotsman newspaper.
The Scottish Parliament has been told that opting out of marrying same-sex couples was "unlikely" to lead to legal challenge on the basis of existing human rights and equality legislation.
Under the terms of the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill, all religious bodies would have to opt in to the principle of same-sex marriage and it is proposed that the Equality Act would be amended to consolidate the principle and provide legal protection for clergy who do not wish to conduct same-sex marriages.
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