Gay Christians say marriage debate misses point
28/03/2011
Submitted by
ILGA-Europe
Original source: http://www.cphpost.dk/news/nation...ay-marriage-debate-misses-point.html
Changing lifestyles make debate over same-sex church marriages irrelevant, some homosexuals argue
While the long-standing debate about allowing gays to marry in the Church of Denmark simmers on, a group of Christian homosexuals has come forward saying that debate is irrelevant.
“I don’t want to get married in the Church of Denmark – what would I do with that? If two people want to commit themselves to each other, they can go down to city hall,” Ib Hoch, a member of the Horsens Parish Council who has lived with his gay partner for the last 28 years, told the Christian daily Kristeligt Dagblad.
Same-sex civil unions have been permitted in Denmark since 1989, when it became the first country to legalise them.
“But I don’t have any interest in making my partnership seem like a marriage – that’s precisely what I am not about. Registered partnership and marriage should not be the same thing,” he added.
Hoch says many of his homosexual friends share his view that the debate about the rights of homosexuals in the Church of Denmark is far too dominated by right-oriented, conservative ministers who are overly focused on marriage.
“You can easily be an active, church-going homosexual without getting married in the church. The debate about homosexual weddings in the church doesn’t look forward. I would rather see a focus on compassion and love,” Hoch added.
Nikolaj Klintebjerg Arnby, the contact person for Kristen og Homo, a network group for gay, lesbian and bi-sexual Christians, agreed personally with Hoch, but said that opinions in the group were split.
”In principal, I agree with Ib Hoch, because I don’t care either way whether homosexuals can get married in the church just for the sake of equality. The longer it is debated, the less I care about there being a church rite for homosexuals.”
According to a 2006 EU poll, some 69 percent of Danes also support same-sex marriage. Only the Dutch (82 percent) and Swedes (71 percent) show higher support for it. However, a 2004 poll of Danish ministers showed that 60 percent were against same-sex marriages being blessed by the church. Despite that opposition, there are openly gay and lesbian clergy.
Changing lifestyles make debate over same-sex church marriages irrelevant, some homosexuals argue
While the long-standing debate about allowing gays to marry in the Church of Denmark simmers on, a group of Christian homosexuals has come forward saying that debate is irrelevant.
“I don’t want to get married in the Church of Denmark – what would I do with that? If two people want to commit themselves to each other, they can go down to city hall,” Ib Hoch, a member of the Horsens Parish Council who has lived with his gay partner for the last 28 years, told the Christian daily Kristeligt Dagblad.
Same-sex civil unions have been permitted in Denmark since 1989, when it became the first country to legalise them.
“But I don’t have any interest in making my partnership seem like a marriage – that’s precisely what I am not about. Registered partnership and marriage should not be the same thing,” he added.
Hoch says many of his homosexual friends share his view that the debate about the rights of homosexuals in the Church of Denmark is far too dominated by right-oriented, conservative ministers who are overly focused on marriage.
“You can easily be an active, church-going homosexual without getting married in the church. The debate about homosexual weddings in the church doesn’t look forward. I would rather see a focus on compassion and love,” Hoch added.
Nikolaj Klintebjerg Arnby, the contact person for Kristen og Homo, a network group for gay, lesbian and bi-sexual Christians, agreed personally with Hoch, but said that opinions in the group were split.
”In principal, I agree with Ib Hoch, because I don’t care either way whether homosexuals can get married in the church just for the sake of equality. The longer it is debated, the less I care about there being a church rite for homosexuals.”
According to a 2006 EU poll, some 69 percent of Danes also support same-sex marriage. Only the Dutch (82 percent) and Swedes (71 percent) show higher support for it. However, a 2004 poll of Danish ministers showed that 60 percent were against same-sex marriages being blessed by the church. Despite that opposition, there are openly gay and lesbian clergy.
