Parish of Leatherhead - comment on the Civil Partnership Act 2004
from the September 2005 Parish
magazine
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 comes into being on December 5 2005.
The Act will grant legal recognition to same sex couples for the
first time, giving them the same legal rights as those of married
couples. Briony was recently quoted in the Leatherhead
Advertiser on this issue and although she was accurately
reported in part of what she said, in part she wasn't. I hope it
will be helpful to clarify the Church of England's position in
anticipation of the Act coming into being.
The following guidelines have been set out in a Statement issued by the House of Bishops:
Priests will be allowed to pray in church and care pastorally for same sex couples.
But there will be no formal liturgy and no civil partnership ceremonies will take place on church premises.
Priests who are themselves in a permanent same-sex relationship will be allowed to register under the Act as long as they remain celibate.
My own hope would be that these
beginnings will be extended, but this is not the Church's
official position at present Briony and I will certainly be happy
to support same-sex relationships within the guidelines set out
by The House of Bishops.
David Eaton