Monday, March 12, 2007
Don't allow the Religious Right to steal our Rights
The fight for the Sexual Orientations (Goods and Services) Regulations has still much to do.
Following on from the Archbishop of Birmingham's decision yesterday to ask all Catholics in his Archdiocese to write to their Members of Parliament, to express their opposition to the regulations, we need to ensure that we also take this opportunity, ahead of the vote on accepting the regulations unchanged, to write to our Members of Parliament to express our support for them.
The Archbishop Vincent Nichols made the following statement on Sunday 11 March:
"I have this weekend asked Catholics in the Archdiocese of Birmingham to write to their Member of Parliament and express their views about two underlying issues in the Sexual Orientation Regulations published recently by the Government.
"Firstly, in considering adoption, these Regulations appear to enshrine the view that same-sex partnership and heterosexual couples are equally suited to meeting the needs of children and no distinction may be made between them on this basis.
"In this way the Regulations imply an understanding of the needs of children and of the shape of the family in which the claims of same-sex couples are placed above the firmly held beliefs of all major religions and long established custom.
"Secondly, the Regulations also imply that voluntary bodies seeking publicly funded cooperation with statutory bodies are expected to deliver Government policy even in sensitive matters of considerable moral significance. This marks a significant change in the pattern of cooperation in the public sector between Christian Churches or charities, and public authorities.
"A serious debate is needed to safeguard and promote the tradition of mutually respectful cooperation, for the common good."
Archbishop Nichols stressed that: "All involved in the work of the Catholic Adoption Agencies are now exploring ways which will permit the continuation of their work, in ways consistent with our Catholic vision. In this they will also work with the independent review to be set up by the Government. In the meantime, the Agencies continue to provide their services."
The Archbishop of Birmingham added: "These Catholic Agencies carry out work of exceptional quality particularly with the most vulnerable of children, inspired by the best interest of the child and by the highest motivations of Christian care and compassion. This precious service to children, and its faith-inspired direction and drive, must not be lost."
While we support the work that Catholic Adoption Agencies do for disadvantage children, the opposition form the Archbishop extends to the whole regulations, as opposed to the specific area of adoption, of which the Prime Minister and the Minister for Communities and Equality and already expressed their views that Catholic Adoption Agencies will be allowed a 'grace period' up to the end of December 2008, more than any other agency or service provider.
This whole statement shows again, as did the original campaign in February, that the Catholic Church are using Adoption Agencies, of which many in this country are in support for the work they do, to push their full discrimination against homosexuality, and these regulations in particular. We should also note that the current head of the Catholic Church in the UK (Cardinal Cormac O'Murphey) is due to retire this year, and also that the Catholic Church is the fastest growing religion in this country due to the increase of Eastern European Catholics into the country due to EU expansion. So speaking out now at this time against these regulations, pushes Archbishop Nichols chances of taken over such a large congregation into a more favourable possiblilty.
Nevertheless, we must make sure that we stand firm, make our voices heard, and ensure that come Pride season, of which many of us will enjoy, that nowhere in this country will any Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual will be turned away from any hotel, pub or restaurant during those celebrations purely for the reason of their sexuality.
Write to your MP, asking them to support the Sexual Orientation Regulations as they stand.
Following on from the Archbishop of Birmingham's decision yesterday to ask all Catholics in his Archdiocese to write to their Members of Parliament, to express their opposition to the regulations, we need to ensure that we also take this opportunity, ahead of the vote on accepting the regulations unchanged, to write to our Members of Parliament to express our support for them.
The Archbishop Vincent Nichols made the following statement on Sunday 11 March:
"I have this weekend asked Catholics in the Archdiocese of Birmingham to write to their Member of Parliament and express their views about two underlying issues in the Sexual Orientation Regulations published recently by the Government.
"Firstly, in considering adoption, these Regulations appear to enshrine the view that same-sex partnership and heterosexual couples are equally suited to meeting the needs of children and no distinction may be made between them on this basis.
"In this way the Regulations imply an understanding of the needs of children and of the shape of the family in which the claims of same-sex couples are placed above the firmly held beliefs of all major religions and long established custom.
"Secondly, the Regulations also imply that voluntary bodies seeking publicly funded cooperation with statutory bodies are expected to deliver Government policy even in sensitive matters of considerable moral significance. This marks a significant change in the pattern of cooperation in the public sector between Christian Churches or charities, and public authorities.
"A serious debate is needed to safeguard and promote the tradition of mutually respectful cooperation, for the common good."
Archbishop Nichols stressed that: "All involved in the work of the Catholic Adoption Agencies are now exploring ways which will permit the continuation of their work, in ways consistent with our Catholic vision. In this they will also work with the independent review to be set up by the Government. In the meantime, the Agencies continue to provide their services."
The Archbishop of Birmingham added: "These Catholic Agencies carry out work of exceptional quality particularly with the most vulnerable of children, inspired by the best interest of the child and by the highest motivations of Christian care and compassion. This precious service to children, and its faith-inspired direction and drive, must not be lost."
While we support the work that Catholic Adoption Agencies do for disadvantage children, the opposition form the Archbishop extends to the whole regulations, as opposed to the specific area of adoption, of which the Prime Minister and the Minister for Communities and Equality and already expressed their views that Catholic Adoption Agencies will be allowed a 'grace period' up to the end of December 2008, more than any other agency or service provider.
This whole statement shows again, as did the original campaign in February, that the Catholic Church are using Adoption Agencies, of which many in this country are in support for the work they do, to push their full discrimination against homosexuality, and these regulations in particular. We should also note that the current head of the Catholic Church in the UK (Cardinal Cormac O'Murphey) is due to retire this year, and also that the Catholic Church is the fastest growing religion in this country due to the increase of Eastern European Catholics into the country due to EU expansion. So speaking out now at this time against these regulations, pushes Archbishop Nichols chances of taken over such a large congregation into a more favourable possiblilty.
Nevertheless, we must make sure that we stand firm, make our voices heard, and ensure that come Pride season, of which many of us will enjoy, that nowhere in this country will any Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual will be turned away from any hotel, pub or restaurant during those celebrations purely for the reason of their sexuality.
Write to your MP, asking them to support the Sexual Orientation Regulations as they stand.
Labels: Gay Actions, Gay Rights UK
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