Madam, – Being gay, just as being straight, is an innate and intrinsic biological fact. This scientific consensus has emerged in recent years. Some of the evidence to support this view has previously been reported in this paper.
It was therefore surprising to read that members of the evangelical churches in Ireland believe being gay is a “lifestyle choice” (May 5th). This unchristian attempt to characterise homosexuality as a deviant choice, and thus unworthy of mainstream acceptability, has been a standard part of the American discourse on homosexuality for many years and is successfully used to dehumanise gay and lesbians there. It is worrying to see Irish religious leaders regurgitate this unscientific and, frankly, ignorant view while professing to “treat all people lovingly and with respect”.
Given that sexuality, including homosexuality is a life-defining characteristic similar to ethnicity, race or gender, the right to discriminate against gay people by including a so-called “freedom of conscience” amendment into the Civil Partnership Bill should be treated with the contempt it deserves. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – In response to many of those within evangelical churches (May 5th), I would feel that the impulse for preservation of the dignity of the individual in the context of prudence, charity and justice for the common good should guide the creation of our laws. A quick glance at our Constitution may help here. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – In response to the concern expressed by pastors of many faiths (May 5th): just as the church would take grave offence to the State interfering in any of its internal affairs, so too should the State take grave offence to any religion interfering in its affairs.
It is the solemn, unenumerated right of any two individuals, irrespective of their sexual orientation, to express their love for one another in a formal ceremony, and no provisions should exist to stop them doing so. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – While I may not endorse the “lifestyle choice” of those who have chosen to join an evangelical church, I firmly believe that such people are entitled to their own beliefs. They are not, however, entitled to their own facts.
Contrary to the claim expressed in their letter (May 5th), a registrar who facilitates a civil partnership is not giving his or her personal blessing to the union of the two people in question. Rather, the registrar is acting in his or her capacity as a representative of the Irish State which does (or will) recognise civil partnerships between two same-sex adults.
What is being sought in such cases is State recognition, not the approval of any church or religious creed, and certainly not the personal moral approval of the registrar in question. If you don’t approve of the fact that the two people in front of you are the same sex, or that one of them was previously married, or that neither of them believe in God (all of which are presumably “lifestyle choices” that religious conservatives would disagree with), then all that’s being asked of you is that you have some manners and do your job like a professional. Is that really such an unreasonable request? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Do any of the seriously concerned holders of sincere religious convictions (May 5th) undertake any investigation into the pre-marital or extramarital sexual activity of couples who approach them seeking to be married, to ensure they are not endorsing a marriage infested with sin? Do they believe that those working in registry offices should do the same? If not, why not? Perhaps they feel it would be an undue intrusion into the private lives of these couples.
Selective application of people’s convictions (without even getting into their dubious legitimacy), however sincerely they think you hold them, is of itself reprehensible. – Is mise,
Madam, – The Civil Partnership Bill, relating to cohabitants, is under debate.
Section 199 outlines the way in which couples can contract out of the Act. It proposes to give property rights, on a par with marriage, to cohabiting couples whose duration of relationship is three years plus. This right will apply unless the couple opt out using solicitors.
By doing nothing, the law will apply.
The average duration of marriage before ending in divorce is 16 years in Northern Ireland and 11 years in Britain.
In light of this, I suggest a longer duration than three years of cohabitation should apply.
In life most people have a right to “opt in”. Here you are obliged to opt out. This ideal is not compatible with a free society. It undermines the freedom of the individual. – Yours, etc,