NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Church of Ireland to discuss hurt caused to gay society

Church of Ireland to discuss hurt caused to gay society

Irish clerics meet to debate topic at weekend conference

HILDA HIGGINS,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Friday, May 11, 2012, 8:10 AM

Updated Friday, May 11, 2012, 8:48 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

18 Comments

Archbishop Alan Harper

Photo by Google Images

A Church of Ireland conference will discuss the hurt the Church of Ireland has caused to gay people in Dublin this weekend.

A group of ten bishops, two archbishops and 630 clergy and laity are meeting as part of the Church’s General Synod 2012, which takes place in Christ Church Cathedral from Thursday until Saturday May 12.

According to the Press Association, Revd Alan Harper, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, said the subject of human sexuality in the context of Christian belief was among the topics up for discussion during the three-day gathering in Dublin.

The motion to be discussed states: “the Church of Ireland welcomes all people to be members of the Church. It is acknowledged, however, that members of the Church have at times hurt and wounded people by words and actions, in relation to human sexuality”.

Archbishop Harper, OBE, said: "The second motion acknowledges openly the hurt and injury experienced at times by lesbian and gay people as a result of the words and actions of Church members. It articulates the commitment of the Church of Ireland to being sensitive to the pastoral needs of gay and lesbian people and a safe and welcoming place for everyone."

Also on the agenda for discussion is the future of the Church of Ireland and pensions for elderly clergy.

During his presidential address, Archbishop Harper described the issue of sexuality as potentially divisive within the church.

"Members of the General Synod, this is but work in progress and it is work not for bishops alone but for the General Synod on behalf of the Church of Ireland as a whole," he said.

"Leadership in the Church of Ireland, especially in the context of the role of bishops, consists not in telling the Church what to think but in assisting the Church in coming to a richer, deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the faith we have received.

"The archbishops and bishops of the Church of Ireland guard and define the doctrine of the Church only to the extent that they may be called upon to declare whether or not a particular view is consonant with the current teaching of the Church as the Church of Ireland has received it. Ultimate sovereignty under God rests with the General Synod."

Nster.com

E-mail

18 Comments

See all comments

Collette2 | May 13, 2012, 09:24 PM EDT

In a hundred years time, the church will still be discussing dealing with hurt about something or t'other.

Report abuse

Pittsburghkid | May 13, 2012, 03:34 PM EDT

What about the hurt caused by homosexuals to young boys? Homosexuals know that if a boy is interduced to homosexual sex at a young age, then they will be homosexual. This is why homosexual are always trying to "turn" young boys homosexual.

Report abuse

ciaradexy | May 12, 2012, 12:13 PM EDT

Peterson, I wish catholics would stop flaunting their beliefs in my face. Im so glad that in less than 10 years time the catholic church will be completely null and void in my country. Cant wait!

Report abuse

ciaradexy | May 12, 2012, 12:10 PM EDT

Ireland North, you left ireland 30 years ago, stop pretending your still here!

Report abuse

ciaradexy | May 12, 2012, 12:09 PM EDT

89West, dont you eat carpet too? If not, your poor wife! Id say her sex life is as exciting as your posts. Poor woman!

Report abuse

eiriamach | May 12, 2012, 08:53 AM EDT

This conference shows that the current tumult in the Anglican Communion is not, as Catholics seem to think, a collapse of authority and chaos among the members, but a process of reform. Ecclesia semper reformandum, as they say in Rome: the Church is forever reforming--or should be! Abp Harper recognizes that each generation receives the Gospel anew, not a "new" Gospel, but an enriched understanding that draws from it the guidance most needed in our time: "a richer, deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the faith we have received," a re-reception of the one truth in words that relate it to the present, rather than words that demand we retreat into a dysfunctional past! Reform is always messy; it can look chaotic. It's the 11 apostles in their fishing boat (Peter, in his self-delusion, has picked this dangerous moment to try to walk on the water!), on a storm-ravaged sea (the culture wars, eg), the apostles clinging to the hull and trying to hold onto each other in the dark, drenched by waves, whipped by winds (Matt 14:22ff). That's the Church that Jesus promised would prevail against the gates of Hell, and it does prevail as long as we keep the apostolic fishing boat in good repair: as long as we continue to reform the Church. Go raibh an Dia libh!

Report abuse

IrelandNorth | May 12, 2012, 06:40 AM EDT

I doubt very much if the relentlessly loud and vociferous minority homosexual lobby will suspend their hostilities until the Church of Ireland (Anglican Communion) give a solemn declaration to convert to a minority sexuality? Such is the nature of genital narcissism. Non-lodgement of claims for sexual abuse doesn't mean that clerical child sexual abuse doesn't exist. It's probably under-reported, not least by quality Irish protestant broadsheets whose agenda it isn't. A Protestant orphanage here in Dublin was implicated in child abuse in the recent past. Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster petitioned the Irish Government for its survivors to be included in the national compensation scheme.

Report abuse

EphraimKibbey | May 11, 2012, 11:31 PM EDT

@Seanmor - do they refrain from eating pork or stone their disobedient children to death too? There are some rules that were made for a different time and place in the Bible. We now know that we can avoid trichinosis by fully cooking the pork and we have found that time-out works better than stoning. Jesus said that the Law was made for man not man for the law. That means that the parts that no longer serve us and our society should be discarded. It is time to shed this archaic rule as the human race is multiplying quite nicely thank you!

Report abuse

Seanmor | May 11, 2012, 09:15 PM EDT

There arehigh ranking clergy of all Christian denominations in Ireland and in many other countries who still try to abide by the Holy Bible, which clearly forbids homosexualy activity.

Report abuse

KatieMurphy | May 11, 2012, 05:50 PM EDT

Soon the cAtholic church of the endless hidden molestation of children world wide will stand alone as a beacon of vile crimes and hatred of gays, as it was also of jews. A hatred that both poisoned europe and built the foundations for the holocaust. And the election of a madman named hitler who sent Jews, gays , gypsies, hundreds of thnousands of soviet prisoners to the ovens..................Google "pope UNexxcommunicates holoccaust denier Williamson to understand what the current leadership of Vatican is about.

Report abuse

EphraimKibbey | May 11, 2012, 03:56 PM EDT

Just because YOU do not like to see a man kiss a man or a girl kiss a girl is that a good reason for them not to do it? Your personal preferences do not determine their civil rights! How many times have you seen heterosexual couples kissing in public and walked past without a shudder?

Report abuse

peterson | May 11, 2012, 03:46 PM EDT

If the Gays and Lesbians would quit flaunting their beliefs publicly, maybe people would leave them alone !!

Report abuse

rainbowbrew | May 11, 2012, 01:57 PM EDT

quit RCC and join the Church of Ireland

Report abuse

89west | May 11, 2012, 12:14 PM EDT

Ahh will the good reverends consider that those lifestyles where the seed of life is gargled and the carpet is eaten, understand that procreation of the human species will no longer exist.

Report abuse

Bythebay | May 11, 2012, 11:56 AM EDT

CelticQueenUSA, The Church of Ireland is the Anglican Church, known as the Eposcopal Church there in the US. No sexual abuse claims have been lodged against the Church of Ireland.

Report abuse