Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CHURCH REFUSES RULING ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGES
Presbyterians insist they will uphold ‘historic union of man and a woman’
THE Presbyterian Church in Ireland will not host sex same weddings following a change in the law.
Minister of State Robin Walker introduced the change to marriage regulations in Parliament on Thursday.
It means same-sex couples will be able to tie the knot in religious ceremonies for the first time here from September 1.
But Rev Daniel Kane, Convener of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Council for Public Affairs, said its views on samesex marriage have not changed despite the new legislation.
He added: “Our position on marriage is well known.
“We uphold the historic and Christian understanding that marriage is exclusively between one man and one woman.
“This understanding is in keeping with historic, mainstream and orthodox Christian teaching, and the biblical position of marriage that is also held by the vast majority of countries worldwide.
“We have consistently opposed the redefinition of marriage, and therefore as a Church, we welcome the fact the regulations acknowledge in law the right of PCI, and other religious bodies, to maintain its position and not undertake such ceremonies.”
No churches will be compelled to offer same-sex weddings despite the victory for the Love Equality campaign for equal civil marriage which was led by the Rainbow Project, Here NI, Amnesty International, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Cara-friend, and
NUS-USI. Rev
Kane said they “voiced significant concern about the increased trend towards what we see as the almost enforced privatisation of religious conviction and belief, including the Christian faith, in the public square” in their response to the public consultation on the issue.
He added: “We therefore regret the fact these regulations prevent local businesses, such as florists and photographers, from separating their business practices from their right to manifest their religion in practice and observance – protections provided by the European Convention on Human Rights.
“The same could be said of those employed by local authorities and other public bodies.”
After years of wrangling and opposition from the DUP at Stormont, samesex civil marriage became legal in Northern Ireland on January 13 this year.
The first wedding took place on February 11, when Sharni Edwards and Robyn Peoples said their vows in Carrickfergus.
Rev Chris Hudson, minister of All Souls Church in Belfast – a member of the Non-subscribing Church of Ireland – welcomed the law change on same sexweddings.
He said: “This is great news for couples who wish to celebrate their marriage in church, embraced by family, friends and the love of God.”