Church vs state in UK
In the United Kingdom the government has passed a law stating that adoption agencies getting public money cannot discriminate against gays and lesbians wishing to adopt children. These couples must be considered equally with any other couples. Prime Minister Tony Blair says that there is no exemption from this law for religious groups who use public money to provide their services.
The Roman Catholic Church in the UK and the Church of England oppose this anti-discrimination language.
They state that churches must be free to ignore this law even when they are receiving government money to run adoption services. The head of the UK's Roman Catholics says that the anti-discrimination law is "a new morality."
Oh dear. A new morality of anti-discrimination. If this is what constitutes new to this man, consider for a moment what the old must be.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, continuing a long tradition of alienating his friends, squandering goodwill, and giving the average person another reason to equate churches with discrimination and bigotry, says the church is against discrimination "absolutely," but that churches should be free to discriminate against gay couples adopting children since it's impossible for laws to do anything.
In both cases the men do not appeal to reason or evidence or anything else they can point to beyond their beliefs, to justify their claims for special treatment. They simply appeal to their beliefs, and urge others, including the government, to act on this basis, with regard to all matters.
For a Roman Catholic bishop of England, this may be fine thinking.
For the head of the Church of England, which extols the application of reason, it is another sign that the day may soon be coming when the church and the British government part company for good.
It's also another sign that this ABC fellow takes seriously his role to protect the status quo, no matter what it might be.
The Roman Catholic Church in the UK and the Church of England oppose this anti-discrimination language.
They state that churches must be free to ignore this law even when they are receiving government money to run adoption services. The head of the UK's Roman Catholics says that the anti-discrimination law is "a new morality."
Oh dear. A new morality of anti-discrimination. If this is what constitutes new to this man, consider for a moment what the old must be.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, continuing a long tradition of alienating his friends, squandering goodwill, and giving the average person another reason to equate churches with discrimination and bigotry, says the church is against discrimination "absolutely," but that churches should be free to discriminate against gay couples adopting children since it's impossible for laws to do anything.
In both cases the men do not appeal to reason or evidence or anything else they can point to beyond their beliefs, to justify their claims for special treatment. They simply appeal to their beliefs, and urge others, including the government, to act on this basis, with regard to all matters.
For a Roman Catholic bishop of England, this may be fine thinking.
For the head of the Church of England, which extols the application of reason, it is another sign that the day may soon be coming when the church and the British government part company for good.
It's also another sign that this ABC fellow takes seriously his role to protect the status quo, no matter what it might be.
posted by The AoM at 1/30/2007 09:45:00 AM
2 Comments:
I thought the Queen was the head of the Church of England.
Separation of church and state? Are you advocating anarchy?
As with the CU debate, I do not understand why religious agencies are surprised with the expectations that come with the PUBLIC funds they receive. Hello!!!!
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