"I wish to reiterate what I have said publicly in these past days, that the Church of Ireland does not regard a civil partnership as matrimony and that there are no proposals for the provision of rites of blessing for same gender relationships. I also wish to say that, as fellow human beings, homosexual people are entitled to be accorded the same respect and dignity as others. Many are "members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church, and God's transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of their relationships" (Lambeth 1.10) in exactly the same way as are all other members of the Church of God."

It should be noted that the reference to Lambeth 1:10 by the Primate is a partial quote and a distortion of that resolution which reads that that "the teaching of Scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage; recognizes that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church, and God's transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships. We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons and we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptized, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ; while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture, we cannot advise the legitimizing or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions."

Harper acknowledged that what took place on July 29h has created a new situation for the Church of Ireland.

VOL has also learned that the at a recent meeting of the Standing Committee it was revealed that there is a £30million+ ($47 million USD) hole in the pension fund which means that future pensions may not continue to be a "defined benefit" fund.

The source told VOL that the archbishop could face even more headaches if large parishes decide to withhold diocesan quotas etc, which is a possibility, if the house of bishops and synod move towards acceptance of civil partnerships.

The civil partnership of the Church of Ireland minister threatens the church's international links within the Anglican Communion and with other Christian churches, The Rev Alan McCann a Reform Ireland leader who is also a deputy grand chaplain in the Orange Order said. He said that dean Gordon's civil partnership had ended the "hypocrisy" in the church, which was "heading for a split if this is not addressed".

A copy of the Archbishops statement can be viewed below

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STATEMENT TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE CHURCH OF IRELAND BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH

The fact that the Very Reverend Thomas Gordon, Dean of Leighlin, entered a Civil Partnership on 29th July last has created a new situation for the Church of Ireland. In many parts of the Church, the matter is seen as controversial. In such a situation it is important that great care be taken in anything that may be said.

The Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Ireland had planned to devote a significant amount of time in residential consultation on matters to do with same gender relationships in the autumn of 2011. This decision was taken in the light of changes in the membership of the House of Bishops since the bishops last discussed these matters in 2002/03, the introduction of Equality legislation and Civil Partnership legislation in both jurisdictions in Ireland, and the progress on the discussion of these issues within the Anglican Communion which led to the Anglican Covenant which the General Synod agreed to subscribe at the May session 2011. The new situation and reactions to that situation have added urgency to the work that the bishops are taking in hand. I am, therefore, requesting that general discussion of these matters in the Standing Committee should be curtailed to enable the bishops to begin their discussions and suggest a framework for future discussion at representative level.

I wish to reiterate what I have said publicly in these past days, that the Church of Ireland does not regard a civil partnership as matrimony and that there are no proposals for the provision of rites of blessing for same gender relationships. I also wish to say that, as fellow human beings, homosexual people are entitled to be accorded the same respect and dignity as others. Many are "members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church, and God's transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of their relationships" (Lambeth 1.10) in exactly the same way as are all other members of the Church of God.

+Alan Armagh