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BELFAST: Church of Ireland 'must provide clearer lead on same-sex unions'
By Sam McBride and Alf McCreary
Belfast Telegraph
October 20, 2006
One of the most influential Dioceses in Ireland has asked the Church of Ireland for a clearer lead on the vexed issue of civil partnerships.
The Diocese of Connor passed two motions at its annual Synod last week which rule out Anglican blessings for same-sex unions at the Diocese's 77 parishes and call on the church to express a formal opinion on the contentious issue.
The Church of Ireland and all the other main churches have made it clear, however, that civil partnerships are not "marriages" in the accepted sense and that the Church's definition of marriage is a union between a man and a woman for life.
Rev Trevor Johnston, who proposed one of the motions, said the church needed to decide where it stood.
"It's important that the church knows its mind on this", the chaplain to the University of Ulster's Jordanstown and Belfast campuses and curate of St Patrick's, Jordanstown said.
"If two gay students come to me seeking pastoral advice about entering a civil partnership or want me to conduct a service for them, what am I to say? The church needs to address this.
"Other countries are facing this situation - a diocese in Canada has decided to bless same-sex unions and this has caused huge division and tension. I don't believe the church should have anything to fear from open and honest debate," he added.
Rev Johnston's motion, calling on the Standing Committee of the Church of Ireland to report to the General Synod on the Civil Partnerships Act's implications, was passed by an overwhelming majority of delegates.
A second motion supporting Bishop of Connor Alan Harper for stating, "it is not appropriate for clergy in the Diocese of Connor to proceed to any form of blessing of a registered civil partnership," was also passed.
A Church of Ireland spokes- woman said if people wanted advice about civil partnerships they should go to a lawyer, not the church.
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