The Northern Ireland (NI) Assembly has this week turned down a motion in favour of redefining marriage following a private members’ debate on the issue.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), currently the largest party of the NI Assembly, brought forward a petition of concern to stop the motion from being passed unless it received the backing of a majority of nationalists and unionists.
The motion, presented jointly by the Green Party and Sinn Fein, was defeated in a vote of 50 to 45 on Monday (1 October). Had the majority backed the motion, the DUP’s petition would have barred its success nonetheless since only three unionist members voted in its favour: Michael Copeland, Danny Kinahan and Basil McCrea.
The motion was simply reflective of the Assembly’s view on the issue and would not have legalised same-sex 'marriage' had it been passed, but such an outcome would have nevertheless increased the pressure on the NI Executive to consider a change in the law.
Comment
Commenting during the debate, Finance Minister Sammy Wilson made clear the DUP’s opposition to the proposals, stating that there was “no widespread demand across society” for same-sex ‘marriage’ to be introduced.
He also argued that a change in the law would adversely “impact religious freedom” regardless of any statutory exceptions for churches, and that teachers were likely to be penalised for refusing to teach and promote the new definition in schools.
Danny Kennedy, the Ulster Unionist Party Minister for Regional Development, argued that a re-definition of marriage was not a priority in light of the country’s economic struggles.
He added that as someone “with a clear personal faith yet tolerant of others to hold and express their views I do not and cannot support the principle of same-sex marriage”.
He went on: “I’m opposed to it not just on the basis of my church, the Presbyterian Church...but also most importantly the teaching of Holy Scripture”.
Letter
Prior to the debate, the Presbyterian Church stressed its disapproval of the motion in a letter to assembly members, arguing that its proposals would “effectively demolish generations and centuries of societal norms established on Judaeo-Christian values”.
The church stated further that a re-definition of marriage was "not merely an issue of conscience for Christian people and churches, but a very significant one for the whole of society”.
It added: “The steady erosion of such values, with minimal debate about the worldview replacing them, causes us the very greatest concern”.
It also argued that the introduction of same-sex ‘marriage’ was unnecessary since “all of the significant legal benefits and rights available through marriage are already equally available through civil partnership”.
Sources:
Resources:
The truth about same-sex ‘marriage’ (booklet)
Christian Concern: Sexual Orientation