A load of papal bull: Pope's assault on Equalities Bill

Mr Hughes, who is Catholic, spoke out after the pontiff urged bishops from England and Wales to fight the Equalities Bill with "missionary zeal."

The Pope claimed the Bill violated "natural law" and imposed "unjust limitations" on the freedom of religious communities.

But Mr Hughes retorted: "Inequality is at the root of many social problems.

"Instead of criticising the UK's plans to improve its legislation, the Pope should ensure that existing EU legislation is properly applied in the Vatican."

Gay rights group OutRage! spokesman Peter Tatchell said: "The Pope's criticism that British equality legislation 'violates the natural law' is a coded attack on the legal rights granted to women and gay people.

"He seems to be defending discrimination by religious institutions and demanding that they should be above the law."

And Lib Dem equality spokesman Dr Evan Harris said that "Britain's equality laws protect both Catholics and gay people from unfair discrimination."

An assurance from Minister for Women and Equality Harriet Harman that religious institutions would continue to be able to discriminate in the appointment of religious staff did nothing to temper the pontiff's attack.

Head of the Catholic church in England and Wales Archbishop Vincent Nichols said the pontiff "wants his reasoned voice - formed by the treasures of the Christian heritage - to be heard."

Last week the House of Lords blocked the Bill from including religious posts such as vicars, imams or rabbis because of vocal opposition from churches, which now remain free to continue with their discriminatory practice of not employing transgender or sexually active gay people.

As well as the Catholic bishops' resistance to the Equalities Bill the government has had to deal with the Anglican bishops sitting in the Lords, who were instrumental in the house's actions.

Communist Party of Britain general secretary Rob Griffiths said that, if the Lords was not abolished completely, "we need to ensure that its members reflect the full diversity of modern Britain.

"We cannot allow this unholy alliance between the House of Lords, the Conservative Party and the church hierarchy to block the path to full rights and equality for all sectors in our society."

In his speech in Rome the Pope also confirmed he will make his first official visit to Britain this year.

The Prime Minister's spokesman said Gordon Brown had "enormous respect and admiration for the Pope and is very much looking forward to his visit."

But the National Secular Society has already launched a petition against the £20 million taxpayer-funded visit and pledged to mount a protest which will include gay groups, victims of clerical abuse, feminists and family planning organisations.