Tony Blair has been criticised for failing to put marriage and the family at the heart of Government policy.

Former Roman Catholic Bishop of Arundel and Brighton Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, who last year became the head of Roman Catholics in England and Wales, called on the Prime Minister to match his verbal support for the importance of marriage and the family with deeds.

The 69-year-old Archbishop of Westminster, who was in his former post for 23 years before replacing Cardinal Basil Hume, said: "All sensible people in this country know that marriage is at the heart of a healthy society.

"I think for a Government to actually express this in words and in its deeds is saying something that is good for society as a whole and that is what government is about.

"Of course one understands sometimes the tragedies and failures of marriage that has broken down, but that doesn't mean one doesn't support and ask people to aim at what is obviously true and right."

Asked for his message to ministers preparing the Government's White Paper on the family, the Archbishop said: "Don't be afraid, put marriage and family life at its heart and it will be supported by the vast majority of people in this country."

The White Paper has been surrounded by controversy since it came to light that a number of ministers were attempting to drop references to marriage through fear of alienating single parents and homosexuals.

The Archbishop, who has clashed with the Government repeatedly over issues including Section 28 and therapeutic cloning, also condemned the over-the-counter availability of the morning-after pill.

He said: "Anything that makes casual sex easier is to be deplored. I think that's what this does."

In a 1997 sermon to mark the Abortion Act's 30th anniversary, he told his congregation: "Human life is a gift from God and as such is sacred."

He also reiterated his opposition to embryo stem research and called on the House of Lords to oppose its legalisation, saying: "My message to the House of Lords would be to say that they should reject this amendment."

But the Archbishop said he would support a summit of scientists, poli- ticians and church leaders to discuss the issues.

His comments on marriage and the family were welcomed by shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe who said Mr Blair had failed to build the Christian socialist philosophies he spoke of during his election campaign.