UK Bishops Change Guidelines

[HagiaSophia]

The Catholic bishops of England and Wales have determined that gays and cohabiting couples can no longer be denied employment by the Church.

Catholic World News reports that the decree is included in a new set of guidelines issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, which they said they hope will help “create a more just society.”

The Policy Statement and Guidelines on Diversity and Equality published on Monday states that “Catholic organisations must ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favorable treatment than another on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or age.”

It calls on “Catholic bodies” to “publicly acknowledge their respect for diversity and commitment to equality.”

The statement adds that “the Catholic community includes people of heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual orientation” and that “people of all sexual orientations have a right to take a full and active part in the life of the Catholic community.”

Of those living in irregular unions, that is heterosexual couples cohabiting together, it says that we live in “a society in which relationships are increasingly fractured and complicated” and that “it is only to be expected that this may at times be reflected in the lifestyles of those who serve the Church.”

cathnews.com/news/502/52.php

 

[Philip_P]

I suppose my two biggest hesitations regarding the same sex union debate is 1) how relevant is it and 2) is homosexuality a choice.

Regarding the relevance, it just seems that there are far more pressing issues. In the American context, the war strikes me as a far more important issue for consideration, and in fact I barely considered the issue of same sex unions in evaluating the candidates in last November’s election (Bush’s statements that he thought the GOP platform was wrong, and Cheney’s delcaration that “freedom means freedom for everyone” went a long way to supporting my feelings on its irrelevance).

Regarding the issue of choice, if homosexuality is a choice, then all the arguments agains it make perfect sense. If it is not, then I have a hard time closing off the possibility of stable, committed relationships to homosexuals. Put another way, where exactly are homosexuals supposed to go? This takes on added urgency in light of the rumblings against homosexuals in the priesthood (which, not a minor points, seems to go against the Catechism position that it is the acting upon homosexual urges, rather than the orientation itself, that is the problem).

Not struggling with the issue myself, I also find it somewhat disengenuous to claim an absolutist position on whether or not it is a choice. I’m familiar with all the standard agruments against the irrelevance of choice (i.e. alcoholics don’t choose their condition), but it’s not quite the same thing - alcoholics clearly endanger their health. It’s not clear how a homosexual couple, renouncing a life of promiscuity for a committed relationship, runs the same health risks of the “gay lfiestyle.”

Please understand that I am not trying to promote a “homosexual agenda” here. I am simply a Catholic who personally knows people who struggle with homosexuality, and has trouble reconciling the denouncement of same sex civil unions with Christ’s refusal to turn away or alienate those seeking him in good faith. In addition, I have reservations about the whole concept of “natural law,” seeing as how similar arguments have been invoked to defend everything from slavery to discrimination against women. It’s not that I reject it completely, but rather that, given its history, there is good cause to question its application.

 

[FightingFat]

As society moves further and further away from discrimination, some of us are getting left further and further behind. This process is bound to proove painful for the Church as long as people are desperate to cling to old predjudices.

 

[Matt25]

I suspect this has much to do with funding.

True to its tradition the Church in England annd Wales is heavily involved in Social Justice and Care works, homeless shelters, soup kitchens that kind of thing. In the UK this activity takes place in the so-called voluntary sector (volantary management committee’s, professional, usually secular staff).

Funding for such activity is usually a combination of state bodies (local, national, European), charitable bodies and if lucky (ironically enough) the Lottery Fund. Many of the funding bodies make equal opportunities in the provision of services and staffing a criteria for receipt of funds. As does the law. Sort of.

In order to continue to continue serving the poor and vulnerable through their agencies the Church must find ways of complying with the obligations placed upon it to be an equal opportunities provider/employer.

Hence catholic-ew.org.uk/equality/e2.htm

With a growing number of agencies and organisations involving, employing and serving more and more people, we must understand and comply with current legislation and good practice and reflect this in all we do.

 This document sets out the policy of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of 	  England and Wales . Our view is that those responsible for, or working in, 	  Catholic organisations and institutions have twin duties. The first is to 	  witness to the Gospel by striving always to be inclusive, respectful of the 	  human dignity of all and in tune with the spirit as well as the letter of 	  the law. The second is to safeguard and uphold the Catholic ethos and identity 	  of the organisation in question. 

 In carrying out these twin duties, Catholics should always keep in mind: 

 • Our first obligation is to the values of the Gospel and the teachings of 	  the Church. 

 • It is fundamental to this teaching that every person deserves respect. 

 • Catholic bodies should publicly acknowledge their commitment to both diversity 	  and equality. 

 • While people have a right to their private and family lives, at the same 	  time a Catholic organisation needs to cultivate and preserve an ethos appropriate 	  to its vision, mission and values and this will make demands on all involved 	  in the organisation...

• Where there is tension between discrimination law and the right of a Catholic institution to safeguard its ethos, Catholics should seek advice.

catholic-ew.org.uk/equality/e4.htm
**Sexual orientation **

 28. The Catholic community includes people of heterosexual, homosexual and 	  bi-sexual orientation. Every human being, whatever his or her sexual orientation, 	  has the right to live a life free from discrimination and harassment, and 	  we welcome new legislation which protects this right. Moreover, people of 	  all sexual orientations have a right to take a full and active part in the 	  life of the Catholic community. 

 29. Catholic teaching, of course, makes a distinction between sexual orientation 	  and sexual activity, and it holds that all men and women are called to a life 	  of chastity, and to fidelity if they choose to marry. Catholic organisations 	  and institutions ask their members and staff to respect this teaching. In 	  reaching a balance between individuals' private and family lives and their 	  responsibilities within the organisation consideration may need to be given 	  to the nature of the role and organisation in question.

 

[La_Chiara]

FightingFat:

As society moves further and further away from discrimination, some of us are getting left further and further behind. This process is bound to proove painful for the Church as long as people are desperate to cling to old predjudices.

Are you saying the Catholic Church should not oppose homosexual behavior?

 

[Norwich]

Are you saying the Catholic Church should not oppose homosexual behavior?
[/quote]

No, there saying the Catholic Church should not discriminate against homosexuals, very different!!! It’s back to the basis of the Church, codemn the sin, not the sinner.

 

[Brad]

Norwich:

No, there saying the Catholic Church should not discriminate against homosexuals, very different!!! It’s back to the basis of the Church, codemn the sin, not the sinner.

Schism.

 

[MichaelTDoyle]

Norwich:

No, there saying the Catholic Church should not discriminate against homosexuals, very different!!! It’s back to the basis of the Church, codemn the sin, not the sinner.

The sinner should be informed that it’s a sin. If the sinner does not believe it is a sin and persists, should such a person be employed by the church? Such a person is the enemy of the Church.

We all sin, but that’s far different than not admitting sin to be sin.

If someone obstinately persists in sin and does not acknowlege the sin as sin we should discriminate against them. At one point it’s called excommunication.

 

[fix]

Brad:

Schism.

Indeed, but what about social justice?

 

[A_Chaoidh]

FYI, Here is the link to the UK policy documents, catholic-ew.org.uk/equality/index.htm

fix:

Indeed, but what about social justice?

Fix:

It is not a matter of social injustice, it is a matter of Divine and Natural Law that form the basis of Catholic Dogma. If one goes counter to Dogma in whatever name, such as social injustice, one negates the principles of Truth upon which the Church is based.
The promoting of social justice in denial and defiance of the Teaching Authority of the Church is the issue.

The Church must educate the faithful on the fundamental theology, morality and catachism of the Faith. Only from that perspective can one understand sin.

If the person in question is active in behavior that is opposition to Church doctrine and obstinate in sin the Church can not/should not employ that person. That would be hypocrasy and would be misconstued by many as tacit approval of the Church for a lifestyle that is anathema.

If the person is making a legitimate, truthful and sincere effort to understand their motivations, compulsions and sinful desires through mercy and grace, then it is the duty of the Church to assist.

This is one of many issues on which the Church must remain steadfast and firm. I say, as a penitent sinner, if one must remain obstinate in sin one should find a schismatic, heretical christian denomination or some humanist social organization from which to advance their pro-sin social agenda, not the holy Catholic Church.

In defense of the Faith, we call for a new Inquisition* for the 21st Century to purge the perversions of Evil from our Holy Mother Church!

defide.com/

(*Inquisition = by this term is usually meant a special ecclesiastical institutional for combating or suppressing heresy, anathema, blasphemy and sacrilege.)