Catholic Priest fails to read out anti-gay marriage letter in (UK) church service (Main Forum)

by desi , Australia, Monday, June 18, 2012, 15:49 (341 days ago) @ Macbee

In searching for an associated item re the Aus. letter I came across this on YouTube.

The context of this video is important - please read this.

On the 11th March 2012, every Roman Catholic parish priest in the UK was obliged to read out a letter from Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Peter Smith. You can read the full text of the letter here.... http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com/2012/03/roman-catholic-bishops-letter-....

The letter is a response to the current coalition government's plan to legalise same-sex marriage in the UK within the next few years. We already have Civil Partnerships, which are marriage in everything but name. But the government (which is one I am not particularly in step with on most matters) is determined to allow full equality to gay couples. It's basically just a change of word. Religious organisations will not be obliged to recognise or celebrate such marriages. Yet the letter attempts to make out that there is some kind of unchangeable, inviolable definition of marriage which neither church nor state can alter. In doing so its implicit message is that same-sex marriages simply cannot exist and are evidently invalid. This attitude is one still prevalent in our society and one that needs challenging, in my opinion.

I only decided to attend the service less than an hour before it started. By the time I was sat in the pew, my intention was simply to video the priest reading out the letter, then post the video on YouTube to stimulate discussion. I stood up to start the video because I didn't want it to seem like a secret action - I wanted people to know what I was doing. Once the letter had been read, I then planned to walk out of the church, possibly inviting anyone who felt the letter was an inappropriate thing for a church service to join me outside and discuss the matter.

The preacher rather cleverly took the wind out of my sails by choosing not read the letter, but inviting people to pick up a copy at the door as they left. I salute him for that move. You can hear that I was nonplussed by that and not sure what to do. Whether what followed was wise on my part I'm not sure. I felt that I had to make clear to the congregation why I was there and what I was doing. I never for a moment intended to upset or offend anyone, but in the heat of the moment, I may have done so. If I did, that's a matter of regret. Those who know me, know that I am a gentle, courteous, caring person.

I have never before taken direct action, never been on a march or demo or taken part in any public protest. But the idea that an institution currently notorious for covering up the abuse of thousands and thousands of children by its representatives over many generations should condemn the public declaration of love and commitment between two people just because they happen to have similar genitalia was just too much for me. No doubt many people in this congregation are good, kind, generous, liberal people. But they need to take responsibility for supporting a corrupt and hypocritical organisation. That's why I spoke out on this occasion. It was a very untypical action for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6em7Yy-MjEc

Good for him for his brave stand.