Catholics, what are your thoughts on this mornings Bishops letter?

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The one from Vincent Nicholls and Peter Smith regarding marriage, specifically homosexual marriage.

I want to respond but after rambling on for 3 pages I'n not really sure of my point anymore.

I agree I'm wiccan but agree with the catholics on this one

JustforMe, I think you need to say that you agree with the Catholic Church, rather than Catholics. It is clear from the discussion here that there are a great many Catholics who do not share the view of their Church on this one!

Good point sorry I agree with the church.

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The etymology and the sense in which any given church sees the concept are two different things.

But you've got the same rights as marriage-that is what civil partnerships are about. You know, if the only argument you've got is that they are named differently that is not really much of an argument.

Agree there is no need to change the name if they have the same rights anyway its pointless.

I don't care if my register office heterosexual marriage is renamed 'civil partnership' tomorrow. Yes, there is a difference in how vows are spoken and if my dh cheated, I couldn't dissolve the cp on grounds of adultery, but any lawyer worth his salt would argue 'unreasonable behaviour, anyway.

What matters to me is being legally recognised as my dh's partner and being next-of-kin, and being able to sit by his bedside if he becomes ill. As far as I can see, civil partnerships provide all of that.

It's not wrong its the churches decision and right to refuse marriage to anyone who does not fulfill their criteria and unfortunatly that may include gay people it is the churches choice.

LeninGrad, I hope you don't mind me asking, but why would you want to get married in a Catholic Church if you are a homosexual, when the Catholic Church is so dogmatic in its belief that sexual acts between homosexuals are wrong?

I don't know what the Church of England doctrine is on the subject, or the other major churches either for that matter.

Maybe all marriages should be civil partnerships & then if you want a religious aspect to it, you can have a religious marriage ceremony in the church of your belief?

it might seem pointless if, as has been pointed out, you can get married anyway - otherwise why object? It doesn't matter to you but it does matter to those who are discriminated against.

Unfortunatly if its not fair if your religion doesn't accept ur choices you can't force them.

You cannot force religion to be politically correct and accept the gay community.

I think this is about getting married generally (perhaps in civil ceremony or in churches that support same sex marriage) rather than within RC churches.

For anyone interested, RC Catechism on marriage, etc.

Personally, I think there should be a very clear deliniation between state & religion. I believe this about education very strongly & think that it would save alot of angst in this situation too. In the UK, we have a real hodge podge of muddled law & tradition going back to when the country was Catholic, when it was CofE & now that it is largely secular.

If we simply had civil partnerships for all couples, that gave every legally united couple the same standing in the law in the UK, that would seem very fair.

If you then want to have your union blessed, celebrated, recognised by the faith that you believe in - then you go into bat with whatever Church you belong to & get it organised.

Sounds like a good idea to me - what do others think?