On Monday the Northern Ireland Assembly will debate a motion that calls on the Stormont executive to bring forward legislation that would allow for same-sex marriage. This week the Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches have written to Northern Ireland Assembly members ahead of the motion on same-sex marriage; the Evangelical Alliance also has commented.
BBC – Catholic bishops are to write to assembly members urging them to vote against a motion which would legalise same-sex marriage. The Presbyterian Church has also written to politicians re-stating its opposition to any change in the legal definition of marriage.
The motion, tabled by Sinn Fein, is due to be debated at Stormont on Monday.
Fr Tim Bartlett said marriage between a man and a woman “still matters in society”.
Father Bartlett, from the Catholic Council for Social Affairs, was speaking on the BBC’s The View programme on Thursday.
He said: “Any debate about this matter from a Christian point of view has to be framed in terms of respect, love, kindness towards each other and for each other as human beings and respect the dignity of each other.
“Mums and dads are important and that difference between men and women in the rearing of children is important and society has always recognised that and given it a special place.”
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22299206
Presbyterians lobby MLAs on gay marriage
News Letter – The Presbyterian Church has again written to all 108 MLAs urging them to retain the current definition of marriage.
A proposed change in legislation that would allow for same sex marriage in Northern Ireland is due to be debated in the Assembly on Monday.
In the latest letter to MLAs, the church has restated its opposition to the radical proposal and urged the elected representatives to consider “some fresh perspectives” on the controversial issue.
Signed by the co-convener of its Church and Society Committee, Dr Norman Hamilton, the letter calls for “a much-needed debate across all sections of our community on the role of the state in shaping a wide range of public and private relationships”.
It says: “It is our view that this renewed pressure for a change in the law both suppresses and skews a much-needed debate across all sections of our community on the role of the state in shaping a wide range of public and private relationships.
“For example, what does academic research demonstrate about the causes of marital breakdown that are germane to a discussion on same-sex marriage? What would be the implications for civil partnerships of a change in the law towards same-sex marriage? What would the effect be on family law generally of such a change?”
The letter concludes: “We are calling for a clear rollback from this single track campaign to a gracious, informed and highly respectful discussion, both politically and with wider society on the proper role of the state in the shaping of close interpersonal relationships. We would of course want to take an active part in that discussion, and would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about it in more detail.”
Earlier this month the House of Commons voted in favour of gay marriage. Of the 13 Northern Ireland MPs eligible to take part, two voted in favour of changing the current legislation (Naomi Long and Mark Durkan), nine against, with two MPs (Margaret Ritchie and Alasdair McDonnell) not voting.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/presbyterians-lobby-mlas-on-gay-marriage-1-5039559
The Evangelical Alliance in its newsletter states:
The debate around same sex marriage is not going away. In the last week New Zealand and France have brought to fourteen the number of countries to have legislated for same sex marriage.
As you will recall the issue was debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly on 1st October 2012 and the motion in support of same sex marriage was rejected by 50 – 45 votes. You can find out how your local MLA voted.
This Monday 29 April 2013, Sinn Fein are bringing a further motion calling for the Executive to bring forward legislation to allow for same sex marriage. You can read the motion here
As you know we have spoken out strongly in favour of marriage and are opposed to it’s redefinition to include same sex couples. The campaign for ‘equal’ marriage is founded on the assumption that marriage is inherently unequal. This is deeply disingenuous. The attempt to make marriage sex-neutral, simply because it involves a man and a woman, ironically marks a new and genuine threat to equality and diversity. It is not for the State to so drastically redefine marriage and we are concerned that marriage is fast becoming a political football. We continue our call for a broader discussion on the importance of family relationships in Northern Ireland society.