As the number of same-sex marriages continues to flourish following last year’s law reform, only a handful of couples are opting for the other legally recognised form of partnership, civil unions. But one of those responsible for legalising civil unions in 2005, Labour Party general secretary Tim Barnett, believes they still have an important place Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Civil unions’
Vatican denies pope is open to recognition of gay civil unions
Monday, January 6th, 2014The Vatican on Sunday denied Italian media reports that recent comments by Pope Francis signalled his openness to the legal recognition of same-sex unions in Italy. Francis, in a conversation with leaders of religious orders published by a Jesuit journal on Friday, said the Catholic Church had to try not to scare away children who Read more
82 same sex marriages since law change
Tuesday, September 24th, 2013
There have been eighty-two same sex marriages since 19 August 2013, the first day same sex couples could get married in New Zealand. Thirty eight of these marriages have been between people who had already been in a civil union. 58 couples were resident in New Zealand, 24 were from elsewhere. The Registrar-General of Births, Read more
John Allen delves into Pope’s record in Argentina
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
Veteran Catholic correspondent John Allen has delved into the background of Pope Francis as a bishop and cardinal in Argentina and clarified his record on such issues as liberation theology, sex abuse guidelines, civil unions and the former military dictatorship. On the Pope’s record in Argentina, Allen says: = Despite Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio’s reputation as Read more
Conscience clause in same gender marriage Bill lacks clarity
Tuesday, March 19th, 2013
Numerous assurances have been given that marriage celebrants who object, on the ground of religious belief or conscience, to conducting same gender marriage ceremonies will be protected in law. But Professor Rex Ahdar, from the Law Faculty of Otago University, says a flaw still remains in the most recent version of the Bill, despite the Select Committee’s hope that the Read more
Civil unions a subversive treasure
Tuesday, June 19th, 2012
As the support for same-sex marriage grows stronger I’m realising what a great treasure civil unions are. Central to their value has been the ability to subvert thinking about how and with whom we can be intimately bound to one another. To point out that loving relationships are many and varied. To show that same-sex Read more
Queensland Government considers ban on same-sex unions
Thursday, April 12th, 2012The new Queensland government has sought legal advice about repealing civil unions in and is not ruling out the retrospective scrapping of the partnerships. Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said he had requested a full legal brief from his department about the legislation that allows same-sex partnerships. He said all aspects of the law were “open for Read more