The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Sir Tony Baldry) answered questions in the House of Commons yesterday, including this one on Same-sex Marriage (Priests).
Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab): What the Church of England’s policy is on priests entering a same-sex marriage; and what guidance has been given on what would happen to a priest who did so.
Sir Tony Baldry: Clergy and ordinands remain free to enter into civil partnerships. The House of Bishops in its pastoral guidance distributed on 15 February said that it was not willing for those in same-sex marriages to be ordained to any of the three orders of ministry—deacon, clergy or bishops—and that
“it would not be appropriate conduct for someone in holy orders to enter into a same-sex marriage, given the need for clergy to model the Church’s teaching in their lives”.
As with any alleged instance of misconduct, each case would have to be considered individually by the local diocesan bishop.
Mr Bradshaw: In light of the recent Pilling report, does the right hon. Gentleman believe it would be sensible if a hard-working, popular priest got married with the full support of his or her parish and congregation and was then disciplined, sacked or defrocked?
Sir Tony Baldry: The situation is clear. The Church of England’s understanding of marriage remains unchanged: marriage is a lifelong union between one man and one woman, and under the canons of the Church of England marriage is defined as being between a man and a woman. The canons of the Church of England retain their legal status as part of the law of England and I would hope that no priest who has taken an oath of canonical obedience would wish to challenge canon law and the law of England.
Other questions were on Cathedrals, Investments, Diocesan Support, and Church Growth Research Programme
In an exchange on Twitter yesterday, Peter Ould asked “Who gives Tony Baldry MP the steer on what to say in response to questions in the Commons?” and churchstate (the Church of England Parliamentary team) answered “Process in a nutshell: we make suggestions after consulting senior colleagues & specialists. He then decides what to say.”
On a related matter, does anyone know whether the CofE pension scheme will have to pay a survivor’s pension to a surviving same-sex spouse? If not, won’t this result in the bizarre situation of a couple who ‘upgrade’ from a civil partnership (where a survivor’s pension *is* payable) losing this entitlement upon marriage? – and of same-sex married couples being treated differently to opposite-sex married couples by the same pension scheme? In any event, it is the administrators of the pension scheme who will become the data collection point of how many clergy have entered same-sex marriages. I wonder if… Read more »
Another good example of how not to answer a question.
So long as Anglicanism is established in England, Parliament is well within its rights to overrule Synod and change the canons itself. If this homophobic impasse on much longer, however unwelcome that responsibility, Parliament may have to take it on.
Isn’t the church exempt from FOI just as it has all sorts of get outs from equality legislation?
Actually, it is a good way to answer the question – honestly and straightforwardly, without trying to evade the truth because it would look better not to have to say it.
Whether that’s what the answer should be is a different question. Whether I like the answer is a third. What to do about it is a fourth.
Who knows what the outcome will be. But it is not possible for magic or fantasy to change where we are.
As far as I know the CofE is not subject to FOI. FOI only applies to ‘public bodies ‘ – i.e. public authorities and publically-owned bodies.
One imagines the Church, for this purpose, argued that it was not a public body. (Church schools are subject to FOI – but not Diocesan boards of education.)
The situation is clear. The Church of England’s understanding of marriage remains unchanged: marriage is a lifelong union between one man and one woman…….but he forgot to add, but can be ended by either party at a future date, allowing for further marriages!
Unchanged from 2001!
Justin Welby’s answer to the Guardian today was brilliant: “I think the church has reacted by fully accepting that it’s the law, and should react on Saturday by continuing to demonstrate in word and action, the love of Christ for every human being.” With one bound, he is free. But Tony Baldry’s answer has all the muddled thinking we have come to expect from Church House. “The Church’s understanding of marriage is unchanged” – eh? This is wrong, and Welby is right: the law has changed, marriage now includes same sex marriage and the church “fully accepts” that that is… Read more »
So long as Anglicanism is established in England, Parliament is well within its rights to overrule Synod and change the canons itself.
I can’t think of a better reason for disestablishment of the C.of.E ( and this has nothing to do with my views on SSM, rather the idea that state parliament could dictate to a church what it should or should not believe).
“.. under the canons of the Church of England marriage is defined as being between a man and a woman. The canons of the Church of England retain their legal status as part of the law of England and I would hope that no priest who has taken an oath of canonical obedience would wish to challenge canon law and the law of England” – Sir Tony Baldry – Then its seems that the canons of the Church of England should be changed – to conform with the Law of the Land, which allows for the Marriage of Same-Sex persons.… Read more »
“With one bound, he is free.”
Not really. He is not saying that the CofE will celebrate same-sex marriages.
Looks to me like a further flip of the waffle.
“With one bound, he is free.”
He’s said absolutely nothing new. He always said the church should not be homophobic. This is just reiterating that.
And he accepted almost immediately after the House of Lords defeat that the church had lost the battle against civil marriage equality.
But he’s not considering any form of joyful celebration of gay relationships in church. He’s still not considering allowing his own priests to get married.
This is still an attempt at getting away with treating those we oppress with kindness.
It doesn’t work. On the contrary, it’s deeply shameful.
On re-reading, noticed this:
Sir Tony Baldry: “The situation is clear.”
And burst out laughing.