On member from Bristol asked about teachers in school and what would be the effect on the schools be on teachers.
Clause Eleven of the bill changes the nature of the guidance with regard to teaching homosexual marriage.
Christopher McCrudden, legal advisor for the Catholic Church said that the the law changes the definition of marriage and therefore the teachers are in danger of prosecution.
The Roman Catholic Church was being attacked by Ben Bradshaw and Archbishop brought him back to the question and said that the issue is the marriage issue.
The church 's teaching is clear, noted the Archbishop, that they must be respected and that sexual relationships outside marriage of any kind is against what Christ taught. The Archbishop was clear on this matter.
"It is not for us as bishops to change the teaching of Christ."
"I do not accept that we can change someone's gender."
Peter Smith referred to the problems in Canada of freedom of speech being ignored because of this issue.
The common issue is that all those countries have tried to respect the different traditions of the churches, said McCrudden.
He doubted that the protection of those religions which do not want to admit
Jim Shannon gave a nice respectful introduction to thoughtful question. He is a Protestant against the bill.
The vast majority of Catholics accept this teaching, that marriage is only between a man and a woman, said Peter Smith.
Jim Shannon brought up the problem of sexual education in the schools-Christopher McCrudden stated that the Secretary of State had a duty to give guidance to ALL schools. on marriage according to the new law.
Section 403 and the redefintion of marriage follows that section, amending it to clause 1102, which means that the if the guidance simply said if the schools merely have to say this legistlation exists.
However, if the importance of marriage and the morality of marriage are not clear, then the Catholic Church asks for amendment that the teaching respects the ethos of those schools and also that the Secretary of State would not be able to force schools to teach same sex marriage.
McCrudden said with regard to marriages happening in the Catholic churches, clause 2001, states there is no opt-out or refrain from taking an opt-out activity. This is key.
The question is whether the Catholic Church can or cannot opt in. He asked for protection from the threat of litigation. This protection is not clear.
Stephen Doughty said the bill is not mandatory. He stressed that, but he is also gay and wants this issue to go through without the protection of the Church being put into place. He became rude, by the way.
"The way the bill is worded it is open to legal challenge," stated McCrudden.
Domestic courts were brought up by McCrudden as a real concern for the Church.
European courts are separate questions, he noted.
Under the Human Rights Act article 14, 12, and 8 which protect the Catholic church from discrimination on sexual orientation are in contradiction with the new law.
Clause 21, and article 22, were referred to as whether the church not opting in is protected and the answer is no.
The idea of the Catholic team is that the Government has decided that the assumptions are not clear. Therefore, the position of teachers and clergy is not clear.
Siobhain McDonagh said she was a practicing Catholic she did not agree with Peter Smith's idea that there was a problem. She was stating that Catholics who go to Mass disagree with the Archbishop.
McCrudden kept going back to real bill on the guidance on marriage.
Jane Ellison, a Conservative, asked whether Catholic should and could accept the new norms--section 149 of the equality act notwithstanding, and the problem is that there could be penalties for the church and public authorities regarding contracts and grants.
Also the church wants protection against hatred stated McCrudden.
Peter Smith said the church was concerned about freedom of expression.
The idea of a Catholic public registrar refusing a same sex marriage was brought up and existing registrars now should be exempted.
However, new registrars coming in the Church wants amendments to be introduced on this question.
There are anomalies in the bill.
The Church believes that one cannot change gender. From the churches point of view we would say that a gender changed person cannot get married. The Archbishop had to repeat this at least twice.
Peter Smith said patiently that the traditional home with a husband and wife, and mother and father is the best environment for the bringing up children.
The Church needs to get ready for persecution.
This parliament acts and thinks like the Reformation Parliament
.
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