The Archbishop of Canterbury last night intervened in the debate on the repeal of Section 28, raising the prospect of a new outcry over the legislation, which bans the promotion of homosexuality in schools and local authorities.
George Carey said that he could not see homosexual relationships as an acceptable alternative to marriage, and called for safeguards to be put in place for schools and pupils.
His comments came as the leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics, Cardinal Thomas Winning, denied that he had compared the homosexual lobby with the Nazi forces during the war; and as a Catholic priest went public about a secret support network for homosexual priests in Scotland.
Repeal of Section 28 is a Labour manifesto commitment from the 1997 election.
For England and Wales, the repeal had been progressing through the Westminster parliament almost unnoticed.
But for Scotland, the Edinburgh parliament is holding a public consultation, which has caused great controversy.
Dr Carey, speaking in London to church leaders of various denominations, said that the issue was a matter of concern to him.
"I condemn totally prejudice against anyone on the basis of sexual orientation," he said. "But I also resist placing homosexual relationships on an equal footing with marriage as the proper context for sexual intimacy.
"With or without Section 28, we need to be sure that there are adequate safeguards in place for schools and pupils. I know that the education secretary, David Blunkett, is aware of such concerns, and has been considering them carefully."
Tim Hopkins, of the Equality Network in Edinburgh, said that Dr Carey was entitled to his view, but he hoped that his intervention would not lead to the same kind of bitter debate that had gripped Scotland: "It would be unfortunate if there was a similar huge explosion about this in England."
Cardinal Winning yesterday expressed regret if any offence had been taken at his remarks, but denied that he had drawn an analogy between gay activists and Nazi forces.
In a speech in Malta at the weekend, the cardinal was reported to have said: "All over Europe an active and militant homosexual lobby is pushing for greater power and the threat to the Christian family is very real.
"I would ask you to cast your minds back to the dark days of the second world war... in place of the bombs of 50 years ago you find yourselves bombarded with images, values and ideas which are utterly alien."
Yesterday he said his words had been misrepresented: "The section of my speech dealing with homosexuality made no reference whatsoever to the war.
"The word 'Nazi' does not appear at any point in my address, and I believe it would be inappropriate, offensive and fatuous to compare the current debate to what happened in Germany in the war years."
George Galloway, Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin, said the cardinal's words were "so loaded and so pernicious" as to further poison the debate, after the cardinal had used the word "perverted" in a previous comment.
"Cardinal Winning is not fit for the great office that he holds," said Mr Galloway. "I think that his contribution to the debate has perhaps been the worst contribution of all."
It was also reported yesterday that a network of gay priests has been set up in Scotland in the light of the cardinal's attacks.
Father Gordon Brown, of the parish of St Margaret's in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, said many gay churchmen saw the controversy over Section 28 as the final straw.
"There are a number of gay priests like me throughout Scotland, and the feeling is that enough is enough. The word 'perverted' is deeply offensive and it seems in the eyes of my church it's all right to be and not to do."
Polls continue to show confusion about the Section 28 debate. Surveys in Scottish Sunday newspapers found that 60% wanted the clause retained, but 9% tolerated homosexuality and 62% of Catholics disagreed with the cardinal's comments.