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Catholic Bishops of England and Wales Reject Proposal for Homosexual Civil Unions

Say "civil partnerships for same sex couples would not promote the common good"

LONDON, October 2, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have made a submission to the Government rejecting the proposal for legal recognition of homosexual civil unions. Writing for the Conference, Bishop John Hine said, "We believe the government's proposals to create civil partnerships for same sex couples would not promote the common good, and we therefore strongly oppose them."

The submission notes that although the government proposal states that 'the government has no plans to introduce same sex 'marriage', "what is proposed is tantamount to civil marriage in all but name." The Bishops stress that the family, as the basic building block of society must be upheld. "Legal recognition of homosexual unions would obscure certain basic moral values and cause a devaluation of the institution of marriage," says the letter.

The document frequently references the recent Vatican statement on homosexual unions.

"Marriage would be undermined because it would no longer hold a privileged place. The signal the law would send to rising generations is that marriage as husband and wife, and a same sex relationship, are equally valid options, and an equally valid context for the upbringing of children. By publicly elevating same-sex relationships to a legal status virtually equivalent to civil marriage, the signal given to society would be that these two states of life are equally deserving of public protection and respect, when in fact they are not," says the document.

See the full document online at:
http://cbcew.org.uk/CN/03/civilpartnerships.htm

See related LifeSite coverage:
Canada Catholic Bishops Plenary Council Neutral on Homosexual Unions
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/sep/03091001.html
U.S. Catholic Bishops' Administrative Committee Opposes Homosexual 'Civil Unions'
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/sep/03091002.html
Catholic Group Wonders "Why the Compromise on Homosexual Civil Unions?"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/sep/03090801.html
General Secretary of Canadian Bishops Conference Minimizes New Vatican Doc
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/aug/03080101.html

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