Gay rites issue threatens an unholy row
Wednesday March 10 2004
Two years ago the Canadian diocese of New Westminster decided to permit the blessing of same-sex unions causing 21 of the world's 38 Anglican provinces to suspend relations with it. The 21 are mostly from the developing world and represent about two-thirds of all Church-going Anglicans.
Last year, the American diocese of New Hampshire took a step that was arguably even more radical; it elected as its Bishop Canon Gene Robinson who lives in an openly homosexual relationship with his partner.
This too caused outrage within the Anglican Church and threatens to tear it apart once and for all.
On the one side are those who believe that Anglicanism must remain loyal to scripture and tradition and condemn homosexual sex, although not homosexuals themselves. On the other are those who say that our view of homosexuality has evolved. We now realise it is an orientation, not a moral choice, and that what is important in a homosexual relationship, as in any relationship, is the quality of love that exists, and not the nature of the sexual act.
The Church of Ireland Primate and Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, has been appointed to chair an international commission to try and work out how to resolve these tensions and so save the Anglican Communion from a decisive split. Into this minefield has walked Archdeacon Gordon Linney who is one of the most senior and influential figures in the Church of Ireland.
Archdeacon Linney has declared himself in favour of gay civil unions. In a major speech delivered last night at Knox Hall, Monkstown, he said he believed that "the State should enact legislation to allow gay people to have registered stable relationships with all the benefits and rights that go with that status such as inheritance law and so forth."
He rejected arguments that the Bible and the tradition of the Church bind it to the view that homosexual acts are sinful.
He pointed out that a reading of the Bible permits slavery, which is now universally condemned, and condones capital punishment which most Christians now oppose. Therefore a literalist reading of the Bible is out.
Of course, traditionalists will argue that this is exactly why we need tradition; it provides an interpretative framework for the Bible telling us how best to understand certain passages.
However, Archdeacon Linney has an answer for traditionalists as well, namely that it is in the nature of traditions that they evolve.
He mentions arguments from reason but unfortunately does not address them. An issue that must be confronted is whether love alone justifies any type of sexual act between consenting adults, because if it does, then what objection can we muster against a sexual relationship between, say, a brother and sister who are above the age of consent and protest that they love each other very much?
Archdeacon Linney is nothing if not brave. The Church of Ireland hierarchy has invited all interested parties to make a contribution to a dialogue the Church is having about how best to understand human sexuality.
The speech delivered by the Archdeacon last night might be seen as the first significant contribution to that process. It is a process that has already divided the Church, and indeed significant differences exist among the Church of Ireland bishops themselves about the issue of sex, and homosexuality in particular.
A pastoral letter issued by the hierarchy last year said that there is a full range of opinions about homosexuality among the bishops ranging from total rejection of homosexual relationships, to full acceptance. Precisely because of these tensions, it has been decided to keep the issue away from "large legislative assemblies", meaning presumably, synods.
Already the Evangelical Fellowship of Irish Clergy (EFIC), which represents about 100 Church of Ireland clerics, has had over as a speaker Rev David Short from the aforementioned diocese of New Westminster. He has warned that the Church of Ireland could bless same-sex unions within two years. That seems too soon, but a spokesman for the Church didn't rule it out entirely.
Outside of the Churches, of course, a roughly similar debate is taking place. Should we permit gay marriage? If not that, then what about civil unions? Should gays be allowed to adopt, and so on. Archdeacon Linney has firmly nailed his colours to the mast. He is for change. For this, he will attract both bouquets and brickbats.
