Scottish Catholic Observer

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow (above) has said the Scottish Government’s plans for same-sex ‘marriage’ must contain the widest possible protections for religious freedom and that the Church will fully participate in consultations to ensure this.

Speaking in response to First Minister Alex Salmond’s announcement today of a consultation on a draft bill to allow same-sex couples to marry in Scotland, the president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland said the Church saw the move as ‘unwise and unnecessary’ but would participate in the new consultation.

Scottish ministers have claimed no part of the religious community would be forced to hold same-sex ceremonies in churches and that they would work with UK ministers to amend equality laws, to protect celebrants from legal or disciplinary action if they refuse to take part or speak out against same-sex ceremonies.

Archbishop Tartaglia, however, said he and the Scottish hierarchy were ‘entirely at one with their colleagues in England and Wales in upholding marriage as a union uniquely of a man and a woman for mutual love and support and open to procreation.’

“The Catholic Church has made its view very clear that the redefinition of marriage is unwise and unnecessary,” Archbishop Tartaglia stated. “The Church will respond fully to the consultation in due course, but remains committed to the belief that legislation to permit same sex marriage, enacted in Edinburgh, Westminster, or anywhere else is wrong, and is likely to have far reaching consequences which will impact far beyond the small number of people who may wish to avail themselves of the new provision.”

The archbishop said that he and his fellow Catholic would continue to fight to ensure Mr Salmond did not sacrifice religious freedom to ensure the legislation of same-sex ‘marriage.’

“Writing to Cardinal Keith O’Brien in August, the First Minister said that he was ‘determined to protect the important principles of freedom of speech, conscience and declaration of faith,’” Archbishop Tartaglia said. “A leading human rights QC has subsequently pointed out that the Government’s proposals will adversely impact religious freedom and a wide range of civil liberties. In order not to discriminate unjustly, more safeguards need to be embedded in the proposed legislation.”

Archbishop Tartaglia said it was especially important that ‘employment, equality and education law’ should be reviewed and ‘if necessary, amended so as to avoid the unjust penalisation of anyone who disagrees with same sex marriage.’

The Scottish Government’s consultation on the draft Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill will run until March 20 2013.

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