Bishop's gay marriage appeal
Roy Beers • Published 15 Sep 2011 09:30
BARRHEAD and Neilston's most senior Roman Catholic cleric has waded into the controversial gay marriage debate.
And this week Bishop Philip Tartaglia will urge our communities to "get involved" in the sensitive issue as well.
Bishop Tartaglia is preparing to tell church members at both St John's church in Barrhead and St Thomas' in Neilston that they have a right to make their feelings known on the thorny issue of whether same-sex partners should be allowed to marry in the same way as heterosexual couples.
And to help them make up their minds he is to issue a special consultation pack spelling out the issues involved.
The highly unusual direct appeal, asking people throughout the area to make their voices heard on the subject comes in the same week as the Bishop's forthright condemnation of the proposals - arguing the SNP government will be failing in its duty to society if it gives the go-ahead.
He also claims the Holyrood administration will not deserve the trust of the nation if it approves gay marriage.
Neilston man Peter Kearney, the Catholic church's media chief, told the Barrhead News the Bishop was determined to persuade residents to contribute to the consultation because there was a danger the issue could become a one-sided argument.
He said: "There's a fear that people who may quietly hold strong opinions don't want to make these known because they may be accused of being intolerant.
"It's also the case that Roman Catholic churches won't be forced to conduct these (same sex) services, and so they may think it has nothing really to do with them.
"But the Bishop is right to urge people to contribute because we have a responsibility to be concerned about what happens in wider society - and there's a danger the arguments against the proposal may not be properly registered."
The Bishop insists there should be a full public debate in which what he sees as legitimate concerns can be aired.
His main argument is that the concept of marriage has always centred on the bringing together of a man and a woman to act as father and mother to their children.
Some who disagree with his views claim the nature of marriage has historically been more wide-ranging than this suggests, and argue people who can't have children - or don't want them - also get married.
Meanwhile the Scottish Government has made it clear that it broadly backs the concept of same-sex marriage but has given an assurance that all views will be taken into account, and that no final decision has been taken.
This article appeared in Barrhead News 14 Sep 11
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