.Changing Attitude Ireland welcomes the decision by the Scottish Episcopal Church, to amend their canon law to allow same-sex couples to marry in the church.
The pursuit of equal recognition for same-sex couples within God’s Church is a long, slow journey. However, there are occasions along the way, when that slow, steady effort is rewarded with results like this when Christian compassion prevails
The Anglican tradition has long held to the tenet of Scripture, Tradition and Reason as central to its beliefs; it is from this that we derive our via media. This ‘middle way’ is perfectly exemplified in the carefully accommodated ‘conscience clause’ allowed for in the Episcopal Church of Scotland’s amendment to its canon 31, which seeks to ensure that clergy who are not comfortable with this development do not have to participate in celebrating a same-sex marriage.
We now hope that those of our brothers and sisters in our Christian family, who have come so far on their journey towards full and equal membership of God’s Church, will reach back to us who are also on this road and lend us their hands in our journey towards full inclusion in the Church of Ireland.
