Cardinal Keith O’Brien of Scotland has broken off personal discussions with Scotland’s first minister over his government’s continued attempt to redefine marriage. Criticising Scotland’s government for trying to change the definition of Marriage, Cardinal O’Brien told Catholics in a letter read at all masses on Sunday that “marriage is unique” and is a “lifelong union Read more
Fear not, Your Majesty. It’s taken a while – 842 years, to be precise – but they’ve done it for you. Got rid of themselves, it would seem, with nary a murmur of dissent. “We don’t care who’s on top.” No hint of the turbulent Becket there, Your Majesty, no call to sustain the separation Read more
Some MPs who voted in favour of passing the same gender marriage Bill through its first reading last week are warning their support may end there. Gerry Brownlee is among the MPs ONE News spoke to who are not guaranteeing their support for the controversial Bill, despite helping it pass its first hurdle in Parliament. Read more
Just a year after Brazil’s Supreme Court allowed same-sex couples the same legal rights as married heterosexuals, a public notary has recognised a civil union of three persons — a man and two women. The notary, Claudio do Nascimento Domingues, said there is nothing in law to prevent such an arrangement. The three parties to Read more
Marriage really matters. Thank God we are talking about it. As Professor Patrick Parkinson said in these pages last week, marriage is ”by far the most stable, safe and nurturing relationship in which to raise children”. However, fewer people are choosing marriage as a way of relating to someone of the opposite sex and fewer Read more
A teacher at a Catholic college in Whangarei has been suspended and students allegedly threatened in a dispute with the principal over same gender marriage. The bitter stand-off was prompted by comments from Pompellier College principal Richard Stanton in the school newsletter in which he lays out his objections to gay marriage under the heading Read more
New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops have expressed disappointment after the Definition of Marriage Bill, allowing for same sex marriage, passed its first reading by 78 to 40 on a conscience vote with no abstentions on Wednesday. “To propose any alternative definition will have implications in law, and in society, but also for education and the family structure Read more
“Religious ministers have the right to refuse to marry anyone. That right will not change if the Bill becomes law,” says Human Rights Chief Commissioner David Rutherford. “It will be up to any individual marriage celebrant, including those who are religious ministers, to decide whether or not they wish to marry a same-sex couple.” The Human Read more
The New Zealand Human Rights Commission has formally endorsed same gender marriage and a non-discriminatory approach to adoption that gives primacy to the best interests of the child. The conclusion to The HRC’s short paper states: “In order to ensure formal legal equality, including the right to found and form a family regardless of sexual orientation or Read more
NZ Catholic Bishops have issued a pastoral letter to young people on marriage. They ask young people to consider carefully the wider implications of the proposed legislation to amend the definition of marriage that would allow same sex marriage. They say that some of the consequences will be unexpected and unintended. “This is no small matter, Read more