Bishops offer to consider laws for couples

Ireland's Catholic bishops have said they are willing to consider legislative proposals allowing for State recognition for cohabiting couples.

Representatives of the bishops told an Oireachtas committee yesterday that while they would consider such proposals, they should be framed in a way that did not "dilute" the institution of marriage.

Fr Tim Bartlett, speaking on behalf of the bishops' committee on the family, said the needs of cohabiting couples and same-sex unions could be addressed "more effectively" in legislation rather than in a change to the Constitution.

Such legislation would have the flexibility and breadth to adjust to the different forms of relationship, and be more comprehensive. But, he said, church bodies would be unable to give their support to any set of legislative proposals without first having had time to study them.

Asked about a legislative proposal by Senator David Norris (Ind) for gay couples to be allowed to engage in a civil partnership short of marriage, Fr Bartlett replied that they would want to give it "more consideration".

However, "one of the issues that would arise is how could those issues be addressed in other ways".

In their written submission, the bishops alluded to "the legal changes that have already taken place and the fact that two people can make private legal provision covering many aspects of their lives together, including joint ownership of homes, living wills and powers of attorney".

They also said a scheme of State recognition for cohabiting couples "might be judged to be an incentive not to marry". The bishops have expressed strong opposition to any amendment to the Constitution to provide for same-sex marriages, noting the church taught that marriage "is exclusively between a man and a woman".