Concerned about children with gay parents, a Roman Catholic bishop said Thursday that he and other church leaders from Massachusetts would support extending some benefits to same-sex couples _ though they are strongly opposed to gay marriage.

Worcester Bishop Daniel P. Reilly told a state legislative committee that the issue of benefits should be dealt with separately from same-sex unions.

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill that would legalize gay marriage. Reilly spoke at a hearing on behalf of the leaders of the four Massachusetts dioceses, including Archbishop Sean O'Malley of Boston.

``If the goal is to look at individual benefits and determine who should be eligible beyond spouses, then we will join the discussion,'' Reilly told the Judiciary Committee.

The Rev. Christopher Coyne, spokesman for O'Malley, said the church is specifically concerned about addressing benefits that affect children in gay families, such as education and health. Extending these benefits would not in any way contradict the Catholic Church's commitment to matrimony, he said.

``I think what's actually being said is that the benefits that are necessary for the protection of children and families don't necessarily involve any kind of a redefinition of relationship or marital status,'' Coyne said.

Reilly told reporters after the hearing that the bill under consideration is a bad solution to a problem that could be solved through simply extending certain benefits, such as hospital visitation, bereavements rights and health insurance, to gay couples.

``Just to put the title of marriage on it, I think that's a wrong way to go,'' he said.

Catholic bishops in New Zealand and Switzerland have issued similar statements, articulating firm opposition to gay marriage but a strong interest in protecting the rights of children in gay families, according to Stephen Pope, a professor of theology at Boston College.

There have been cases in which gay couples with children have run into trouble at schools, which will not let one of the parents pick up the student or sign off on documents because the parental relationship is not legally recognized.

The groups in New Zealand and Switzerland were not criticized by the Vatican, Pope said, but came under fire from conservative Catholic groups.

Supporters of gay marriage said they welcomed the opportunity to discuss the issue with church leaders, but said that equality will only happen when gay couples are given the full rights of marriage.

``It's the first time I've heard them say something like this,'' said Sen. Cheryl Jacques, a gay lawmaker who has two children with her partner. ``But I also heard someone who said his church's doctrine should control civil law. We're not trading in our civil rights for some civil benefits.''

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