“I am extremely proud of the way the team in Crosscare have responded to the crisis,” said Conor Hickey, director of Crosscare.

“The love of a married couple is a very special kind of love, a love that is life-giving, permanent and exclusive” – Bishop Denis Nulty.

The bishops are to set up a special review group to examine how best the Church can continue to support marriage and family life in Ireland.

Funding withdrawal will apply from January 2015 and will “undermine a vital service provided to women and men preparing for marriage”.