Monday, January 24, 2005
Civil unions, by definition, have no place in church
The Catholic Church in NZ says it won't allow civil union ceremonies in the church. Needless to say, protesters are immediately complaining about the policy, as we heard on Morning Report this morning.
Now hold on a minute! The Prime Minister and others campaigned vigorously for civil unions on the grounds that an alternative to marriage was needed that did not have religious connotations. You can't have it both ways. You cannot support a relationship that is legislated specifically to avoid religious connections and then complain that churches won't perform a civil union ceremony. That really is wanting to have your wedding cake and eat it, too.
These protesters also forget that the Catholic church (along with most other churches) is not a club that conducts its business by the voting preferences of its members. A church is founded on certain ideals and beliefs, which it proclaims as a witness to the world; if you don't like them, complain first to the Founder of the church. The church does not exist to serve up to society a dish to meet every whim of taste and fashion. Outsiders have no right to demand it, and the church would be very foolish to try and provide it.
The Catholic Church in NZ says it won't allow civil union ceremonies in the church. Needless to say, protesters are immediately complaining about the policy, as we heard on Morning Report this morning.
Now hold on a minute! The Prime Minister and others campaigned vigorously for civil unions on the grounds that an alternative to marriage was needed that did not have religious connotations. You can't have it both ways. You cannot support a relationship that is legislated specifically to avoid religious connections and then complain that churches won't perform a civil union ceremony. That really is wanting to have your wedding cake and eat it, too.
These protesters also forget that the Catholic church (along with most other churches) is not a club that conducts its business by the voting preferences of its members. A church is founded on certain ideals and beliefs, which it proclaims as a witness to the world; if you don't like them, complain first to the Founder of the church. The church does not exist to serve up to society a dish to meet every whim of taste and fashion. Outsiders have no right to demand it, and the church would be very foolish to try and provide it.
