Another fault-line issue was raised when the chairman of the Catholic bishops’ Council for Marriage and the Family, Bishop Christopher Jones, reiterated his Church’s opposition to same-sex marriages. To muddy the waters further the Church of Ireland Changing Attitude Ireland group has strongly supported the extension of civil marriage to same-sex couples. Again this week lobby group Social Justice Ireland published a critique of Government economic policy suggesting that it is creating a fractured society, a weak economy and persistently high unemployment. SJI also warned that Ireland has seen the single biggest transfer of resources in history from low- and middle-income people to the rich and powerful. [Continue Reading]
‘Those texts’ and the sanctity of life: a contribution to the debate on human sexuality
1 April 2013
By Sandra Pragnell, SEARCH 36.1, Spring 2013—The Gospel and practice of Jesus is radically inclusive. In his life and teaching he models the acceptance and affirmation of outcasts. He says nothing about homosexuality. Yet the Church’s attitude to homosexuality, in its traditional understanding, appears exclusive and homophobic, contrary to the kingdom values we profess to uphold. Christian gay men and lesbians have been described as “exiles: banished from the family, from the church, and from creation.” [Continue Reading]
Sodom, Lot’s daughters, and other texts: Homosexuality, the Church, and the sanctity of life
13 March 2013
The Church is called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ which
excludes no one; if the Church is not inclusive, it is a counter-sign of
the kingdom. The Church of Ireland should call, as some other Anlgican
churches have done, for all relationships to be assessed in the light
of an authentic spirituality, based on the kingdom values of healing, reconciliation, compassion and love. All are made in God’s image and,
as Christians, we are all one in Christ. Can the Anglican Communion
find the courage to speak prophetically and with integrity to those within
and outside the church in the third millennium of our Lord? [Continue Reading]
A Tortured Debate
12 March 2013
DURING the current civil partnership controversy, the phrases “the plain meaning of scripture” and “we have no choice but to obey” have been used on several occasions, often in the context of persuading people not to accept same-gender civil partnerships in the life of the Church. “Scripture explicitly condemns such unions; therefore Christians have no option in the matter,” is the assertion. This approach has the merit of being very clear, and is often welcomed as a sure guide in this highly complex and contentious area. But it ignores the fact that faithful Christians take different meanings from scripture according to their culture and their situation; and that “literalness” can involve misunderstanding as much as assertion of the core scriptural meaning. [Continue Reading]
