The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has used his Christmas Eve sermon to attack the government's plans for gay marriage, BBC News reported.

The Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, said the proposals were "undemocratic" and a "shambles".

Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Canterbury is to admit in his last sermon that the Church of England has been damaged by the recent vote against women bishops.

Dr Rowan Williams is to retire from the post at the end of the month.

Speaking to the congregation at Westminster Cathedral, Archbishop Nichols said the government had no mandate to push through any laws around same-sex marriage.

"There was no announcement in any party manifesto, no Green Paper, no statement in the Queen's Speech. And yet here we are on the verge of primary legislation. From a democratic point-of-view, it's a shambles. George Orwell would be proud of that maneuver, I think the process is shambolic," he said.

He claims during a "period of listening", those who responded were "7-1 against same-sex marriage".

In the past, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has likened committed gay relationships to "profound friendships".

The government launched a 12-week consultation in March on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.