Martin defends church's right to speak out on civil partnership

ARCHBISHOP of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin has defended the Catholic Church’s right to speak out against the Civil Partnership Bill, following criticism by Government Ministers.

The Dáil is expected on Thursday to deal with the final stages of the legislation providing civil partnership for same-sex couples.

All parties have formally supported the legislation although individual TDs and Senators have expressed criticism.

Dr Martin did not name the legislation or identify the Ministers but said the church had a “right and obligation to express concerns” about the way those with responsibility in politics, the economy and society “respond to the fundamental mandate of care for citizens and the common good”.

He added: “This is a non-negotiable for the church, even when that message might not meet with agreement and acceptance.”

In a homily at Knock shrine to St Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society, the archbishop said: “Listening recently to some comments which seemed to express unease at the fact the Irish bishops would address the political community on a fundamental question affecting society, I was struck to find in my diary just one year earlier, politicians complaining that the bishops had not been speaking publicly in support of a Yes vote on the Lisbon Treaty. True pluralism respects constructive voices whether they are welcome or not.”

Two weeks ago in a statement following their summer meeting the bishops strongly criticised the legislation, and called for a free vote for TDs and Senators.

The bishops also believed provisions of the legislation which could expose civil registrars to sanctions if they refused to deal with civil partnerships were unconstitutional.

Minister for the Environment John Gormley said at the time he was “taken aback” by the comments, that the legislation had been “checked inside and out” and was not unconstitutional.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said the Bill had been carefully drafted so as not to undermine the position of marriage. He said there was no proposal to allow a free vote on “this important legislation”.

The last free vote in the Dáil is believed to have been in the early 1970s when a Bill to legalise contraception was voted down. Then taoiseach Liam Cosgrave voted against his own minister for justice’s legislation.

In his homily Dr Martin said the church had to live with Ireland’s changed culture. Referring to the church’s role in society, he said “mistakes were made in the past, people’s lives have been wrecked by the manner in which the church was governed yet the church has and will continue to have a vital role to play in Irish society”.

The phrase “‘render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s’ is much more than a soundbyte”, he said. The church “has no role or desire to replace Caesar or in substituting itself for the political forum”, but there were limitations to politics.

“In a democratic system politicians are answerable to those who elected them.”

SIC: IT