Gay Rights (or the sexual orientation regulations)
11 01 2007
Time for something a little bit more serious, after the lighthearted quiz I posted on a couple of days ago.
I was listening to the radio the other day, to a discussion on the debate that was happening in the House of Lords on Tuesday on the Sexual Orientation Regulations. The SORs have come into force in Northern Ireland and are due to be implemented in the rest of the UK in April. They are designed to ensure that “goods, facilities and services” are delivered inclusively and in a non-discriminatory way. Some Christians are concerned that this in turn will be an infringement on their freedom and liberty (for example, see here).
So, while listening to the discussion, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Christians were overstating their concerns. Were they really telling me the truth? Are these regulations going to force ministers, pastors, or church leaders to bless same sex relationships? Or will youth groups or faith schools have to promote same sex relationships as having equal validity as heterosexual relationships? That is what I was being told, but sorry for being sceptical, but I just wasn’t sure there wasn’t a wee bit of hyperbole or perhaps even obfuscation (a great word, which basically means a deliberate concealing of meaning, which you could argue I have just done by using that word …)
At the time, I hadn’t heard any other Christian response, but then thanks to Maggi Dawn, I have found that Malcolm Duncan (leader of Faithworks, that Steve Chalke founded) has written a response to the Christian reaction to the proposed implementation to SOR’s.
Malcolm says there already exemptions for religious organisations: we won’t be forced to bless same sex relationships etc:
It is also important to remember that the measures contained in the SORs will not replace existing legislation on discrimination. Thus the protection from discrimination on the grounds of religion and belief that Christians currently enjoy will continue.
So what is the truth of all this? Well I am still not sure, but somehow the tone and words of the outspoken critics don’t ring true to me. I suspect there are some difficult scenario’s that Christians would face, but maybe not the extent that is being portrayed. A lot of the debate has focused on guesthouses: if these regulations are passed, Christians will be forced to allow a same sex couple to rent a room, but there doesn’t seem much desire to stop an unmarried heterosexual couple renting rooms. The prospect, say proponents of the bill, of guesthouses having signs outside saying “no gays allowed” brings us back to the racial intolerance a few decades ago, when “no blacks allowed” sign were posted. More obfuscation? Maybe.
But I can’t shake the feeling that guesthouse owners wouldn’t be so fussed about a bloke and a woman sharing a bed if they weren’t married, and that smacks of homophobia in my book.
smacks of it in my book too, i’ve got a post brewing on this as well… after all how often do christians get to hang with gays (at least ones out of the closet) in their own homes? Rather than fearing this maybe we could look at it as a chance to welcome in people we find different and practice the art of love on them - why do we as christians always hit the rejection button, followed by the seperatist button…
i mean ok we might be comfortable with gay sexuality but then again Jesus as a jewish rabbi would not have been comfirming the sexuality of the prostitute who he let annoint his feet or the half naked woman caught in adultery who was dragged before him and each time it’s the religious shame creating, finger pointing religious types who Jesus lets the shame rebound on and loves those who are sexually in a stew…
grins, maybe i should link my post to this comment instead, lol
thanks rupert…
Hey
Thanks for opening up this as a post on your blog - and for the link to what I have said. In fact, I’m doing a load of radio this weekend on the same issue. http://www.malcolmduncan.typepad.blog tells you where.
Actually you are spot on. The way in which these regs are being represented is ridiculous. It all flows out of a DTI set of proposals which were open to comment until June last year called ‘Getting Equal’ which themselves sit as part of a wider set of equalities and discrimination legislation.
Whilst Christians have the right and should engage in public debate, we should do so intelligently, graciously and in well informed and honest way.
The shrill voices so vehement in their opposition to this were what made me speak out.
The facts rather than the accusations are worth noting. Firstly, there are no published regulations in England, Wales or Scotland yet - they are still being worked out! Secondly, there was a wide spread consultation period and the government has not yet published their responses to the consultation! Thirdly the jey concerns around boarding houses, use of premises, education and some elements of service provision have already been specifically answered in the Lords in a debate on 13th December last year and in a number of written assurances.
But some within the Christian community seem determined to mistrust government, attack legislation and vent their anger and demand their rights, no matter what happens.
I wonder what would have happened if Jesus had demanded his rights? And what about my responsibility to be gracious, loving and compassionate? And what about the obligation to treat people with dignity even when I don’t agree with their lifestyle choices. And what about the call to serve? And what about truthfulness and refusing to believe the worst of others, and love believing all things and….
The list goes on.
Love with conditions or a hidden agenda isn’t love, is it?
All the best
Thanks Paul and Malcolm for your comments.
Paul - spot on I think. The more i think about it, the more i think fear is at the heart of what motivates much of the church. That’s why i think we tend to hit those buttons as you say, & stay with what we know and comfortable with.
Malcolm - thanks for the facts. I find it pretty difficult to sift the truth from the hype in issues like this, so it good to have some facts from someone who has spent a bit more researching than i have. I have now found some the answers, to written questions, on hansard that you are referring to in your blog, and point to a considerable amount of fear and hype from those opposing the regulations.
All the best with the radio interviews tomorrow. I will have to listen to the radio 4 one as Radio Scotland doesn’t seem to appear in your long list of other stations that want to interview you!!