A GOOD WORD FROM IRELAND

From the Irish Times

THE CATHOLIC Bishops have come out strongly against the civil partnership legislation currently before the Dáil.

In a statement at the conclusion of their summer meeting in Maynooth last night, they appealed to members of the Oireachtas to read their Why Marriage Matters document, published last March.

They asked “in particular’’ that politicians “consider in conscience” a quoted excerpt from that document before voting on the Bill.”

The relevant excerpt reads: “Oireachtas Éireann is about to pass legislation that seeks to give same-sex relationships a standing which will be as similar as possible to marriage.
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“This is not compatible with seeing the family based on marriage as the necessary basis of the social order and as indispensable to the welfare of the Nation and State. Nor does it ‘guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded.’ (Art 41.3.1, Bunreacht na hÉireann)”

The Roman Catholic bishops are once again attempting to influence legislation granting rights to same-sex partners, this time in the the Irish Dáil, in the name of protecting the institution of marriage.

Stephen Neill, a priest in the Church of Ireland, who blogs at Paddy Anglican says:

As a married man and a father I really don’t understand this argument. I don’t see the prospect of same sex couples being afforded the right to register their partnerships and seek legal protection for their rights therein as any threat to my marriage! Without getting into the minutiae of biblical interpretation it does seem to paint God into a very narrow corner with little room left for the generosity of Grace. On the contrary the Bill does not provide legal recognition for same-sex couples who are co-parenting children. Children in these families are seriously disadvantaged by being ignored in the proposed legislation.

I recall the same argument regarding the threat of same sex unions to Christian marriage being used when my good friend Bishop Gene Robinson (an openly gay man in a long term monogamous relationship) was consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire, and he quite validly pointed out that Brittney Spears heterosexual behaviour was far more undermining of the institution of marriage than his own exclusive and committed same sex relationship with his partner of many years.

Speaking from the vantage point of of 49 years in an opposite-sex marriage, in no way do I see my marriage threatened by same-sex partnerships or by same-sex marriage. It seems to me that all of society benefits when two people of whatever sex wish to pledge to a loving, faithful relationship. Would that those in heterosexual relationships set a better example in fidelity.

Backtracking a bit, the bishops say:

“The Civil Partnership Bill will not permit adoption by same-sex couples. In most other respects, including tax and social welfare purposes, same-sex civil partnerships will be regarded as being equal to marriage.

To which Stephen responds:

The bishops and others will argue ‘but what about same sex parents’?
Nobody answers this question better than Spencer Burke, a contemporary American theologian who in his ‘A heretics guide to eternity’ comments: ‘If you’re a child, is it better to live in a home with a single dad-or even two dads-who really love you than with a mum and a dad who abuse you? Really, what’s more important: that your family “fits” or that it functions?’

Spencer Burke and Stephen are right, of course.