Bishops of England and Wales respond to passing of same sex "marriage" law
(Vatican Radio) With Queen Elizabeth II’s royal assent, the Marriage (Same Sex Couple)
Act became law in Britain, with its provisions for so-called same sex “marriage” set
to come into force in the coming months.
The passage of the Act was strongly
opposed by the Bishops of England and Wales. In a statement, they noted that the bill
“marks a watershed in English law and heralds a profound social change.” The Bishops
pointed out a number of on-going concerns with the law, especially the need to protect
the rights of those who disagree with same-sex marriage, and, in education, the right
of the Church to continue to teach students the truth about the nature of marriage.
Charles Wookey, the Assistant General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference
of England and Wales, told Vatican Radio the Bishops will continue to proclaim Church
teaching. “The Bishops continue to do what they’ve been doing before, which is to
preach and teach the Gospel, and to speak with fidelity in a compelling way about
it.”
He acknowledge that the new law represents a significant change. “This
is a change of culture. . . . It’s something which is difficult, but requires a careful
and serious dialogue and engagement.” Wookey said that the Church must explain her
teaching on the true meaning of marriage, “and to make the reasons for that, the natural
arguments, the public law reasons for it compelling and attractive for people.”
Meanwhile,
he says, the Bishops “will continue to preach and teach what the Church teaches about
marriage, and seek positively to engage with our culture.”
Listen to
Charles Wookey's interview with Christopher Wells:
Below,
please find the complete text of the Bishops’ “Statement on the passing of the Marriage
(Same Sex Couples) Act:
Statement by the President and Vice-President
of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales
In receiving Royal
Assent, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act marks a watershed in English law and heralds
a profound social change. This fact is acknowledged by both advocates and opponents
of the Act.
Marriage has, over the centuries, been publicly recognised as a
stable institution which establishes a legal framework for the committed relationship
between a man and a woman and for the upbringing and care of their children. It has,
for this reason, rightly been recognised as unique and worthy of legal protection.
The
new Act breaks the existing legal links between the institution of marriage and sexual
complementarity. With this new legislation, marriage has now become an institution
in which openness to children, and with it the responsibility on fathers and mothers
to remain together to care for children born into their family unit, are no longer
central. That is why we were opposed to this legislation on principle.
Along
with others, we have expressed real concern about the deficiencies in the process
by which this legislation came to Parliament, and the speed with which it has been
rushed through. We are grateful particularly therefore to those Parliamentarians in
both Houses who have sought to improve the Bill during its passage, so that it enshrines
more effective protection for religious freedom.
A particular concern for us
has also been the lack of effective protection for Churches which decide not to opt-in
to conducting same sex marriages. Amendments made in the House of Lords though have
significantly strengthened the legal protections in the Act for the Churches. We also
welcome the Government’s amendment to the Public Order Act which makes it clear beyond
doubt that “discussion or criticism of marriage which concerns the sex of the parties
to the marriage shall not be taken of itself to be threatening or intended to stir
up hatred”. Individuals are therefore protected from criminal sanction under the Public
Order Act when discussing or expressing disagreement with same sex marriage.
In
other respects, however, the amendments we suggested have not been accepted. We were
concerned to provide legislative clarity for schools with a religious character. This
was in order to ensure that these schools will be able to continue to teach in accordance
with their religious tenets. Given the potential risk that future guidance given by
a Secretary of State for education regarding sex and relationships education could
now conflict with Church teaching on marriage, we were disappointed that an amendment
to provide this clarity was not accepted. The Minister made clear in the House of
Lords, however, that in “having regard” to such guidance now or in the future schools
with a religious character can “take into account other matters, including in particular
relevant religious tenets”, and that “having regard to a provision does not mean that
it must be followed assiduously should there be good reason for not doing so”. These
assurances go some way to meeting the concerns we and others expressed.
We
were disappointed that a number of other amendments to safeguard freedom of speech
and the rights of civil registrars to conscientious objection were not passed. But
Ministerial assurances have been made that no one can suffer detriment or unfavourable
treatment in employment because she or he holds the belief that marriage can only
be between a man and a woman.
The legal and political traditions of this country
are founded on a firm conviction concerning the rights of people to hold and express
their beliefs and views, at the same time as respecting those who differ from them.
It is important, at this moment in which deeply held and irreconcilable views of marriage
have been contested, to affirm and strengthen this tradition.