Same-sex marriage bid set to fail

Catholic bishops have urged politicians to reject “marriage equality” for same sex partnerships in Northern Ireland.

The first gay marriages took place in England and Wales last month.

The devolved assembly at Stormont is due to debate a motion on the subject on Tuesday.

An open letter from the senior clerics said the proposal undermined the principle of equality by applying it “inappropriately”.

It added: “The proposed marriage equality motion before the assembly effectively says to parents, children and society that the state should not, and will not, promote any normative or ideal family environment for raising children.

“It therefore implies that the biological bond and natural ties between a child and its mother and father have no intrinsic value for the child or for society.”

Politicians from the main parties in Britain have hailed the change in the law in England and Wales.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the move sent a message that people were now equal “whether gay or straight”, but some religious groups remain opposed.

Scotland passed a similar law in February; the first same-sex marriages are expected there in October.

In Northern Ireland, with a greater proportion of Catholic and Protestant churchgoers than other parts of the UK and at times a more conservative social culture, any change would be more controversial.

The Stormont assembly motion tabled by Sinn Fein called on the Democratic Unionist Minister of Finance and Personnel, Simon Hamilton, to introduce legislation to guarantee that couples of any sex or gender identity receive equal benefit.

It proposed: ” That this Assembly notes that other jurisdictions on these islands have moved forward with equal marriage rights for same-sex couples; believes that all couples, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, should have the same legal entitlement to marry and to the protections, rights, obligations and benefits afforded by the legal institution of marriage.”

The motion also said religious institutions should have the freedom to decide whether or not to conduct same-sex marriages.

The perceived effect of such a union on adopted children has been hotly debated.

In an open letter signed by the head of the Irish church Cardinal Sean Brady and six bishops, the Catholic leaders claimed the family, based on the marriage of a woman and a man, was “the best and ideal place for children and deserves special recognition and promotion by the state”.

“We believe that the state should urgently provide more and better services in support of marriage in which mothers and fathers can provide the optimum loving and stable environment for children to grow and flourish.”

The letter said same-sex relationships are already comprehensively provided for in legislation through their recognition as civil partnerships and associated equality legislation.

The clerics told politicians: “We ask you to reaffirm the unique value to children and society of the mutual and complementary roles of a mother and father, committed to a loving and life-long relationship to each other in marriage.

“We ask you promote the value of children being brought up, where possible and in their best interests, by their biological parents. We ask you not to undermine the principle of equality by applying it inappropriately to two fundamentally different types of relationship.

“We ask you to strengthen and support marriage between a woman and a man as a unique and highly valued institution of vital importance to the good of society.

“We therefore appeal to you to reject the forthcoming motion on what the motion describes, inappropriately, as marriage equality.”

The Church of Ireland restated its position.

“The Church of Ireland affirms, according to our Lord’s teaching, that marriage is in its purpose a union permanent and life-long, for better or worse, till death do them part, of one man with one woman, to the exclusion of all others on either side.

“The Church of Ireland recognises for itself and of itself, no other understanding of marriage.”

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Same-sex marriage bid set to fail