A veteran Church of Ireland cleric has backed David Cameron’s calls for same sex marriage – saying homophobia has become Northern Ireland’s “new sectarianism”. Canon Charles Kenny has spoken out about the attitude to the gay community from within his own Church, claiming that bias was distorting the Christian message. Canon Kenny, who retired from Belfast’s St Anne’s Cathedral in 2000, told the Belfast Telegraph: “The same failings of the Christian Church, and the presentation of the Gospel, which led to sectarianism in the past are playing again now in relation to homophobia.” [Continue Reading]
Belfast Telegraph: Bishops back ‘traditional marriage’
March 12, 2012
THE Church of Ireland has underlined its commitment to marriage as being between a man and a woman following its major weekend conference on human sexuality. A joint statement from the Primate Archbishop Alan Harper and the Archbishop of Dublin Dr Michael Jackson stressed that “the church’s position on marriage as being the union of one man and one woman remains constant”. [Continue Reading]
Belfast Telegraph: ‘Breathing space’ call in row over gay clergy
September 14, 2011
THE Church of Ireland Gazette is calling for “breathing space” in the row over gay clergy. The call follows the revelation that the openly gay Dean of Leighlin, Tom Gordon, entered into a same-sex civil partnership in July. The Gazette, edited by Canon Ian Ellis, stated in its editorial that while civil partnership is not a marriage, “and does not necessarily involve same-sex sexual expression, there is a very wide perception that it is a form of gay marriage, and perceptions are often as important as facts”. [Continue Reading]
Carlow Nationalist: Cleric’s same-sex union makes history
September 6, 2011
HISTORY is often made by taking little steps, and a County Carlow-based Church of Ireland cleric has inscribed his name in the annals. The Very Rev Tom Gordon, dean of St Laserian’s Cathedral, Old Leighlin has entered into a same-sex civil partnership with his partner of 20 years. The union is set to make history as it is understood Rev Gordon’s partnership is the first same-sex union for a serving Church of Ireland cleric. [Continue Reading]
