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| Northern Ireland's gay marriage ban is un-Christian, says minister | Northern Ireland's gay marriage ban is un-Christian, says minister |
| (1 day later) | |
| Canon Charles Kenny tells Belfast rally that opposition to marriage equality is like old hostility to Protestants marrying Catholics | |
| Henry McDonald Ireland correspondent | |
| Sat 1 Jul 2017 16.23 BST | |
| Last modified on Sat 1 Jul 2017 17.03 BST | |
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| Northern Ireland’s ban on gay marriage is as unjust and un-Christian as the historical sectarian taboo over Catholics and Protestants marrying, an Anglican minister has told an equality rally in Belfast attended by thousands. | Northern Ireland’s ban on gay marriage is as unjust and un-Christian as the historical sectarian taboo over Catholics and Protestants marrying, an Anglican minister has told an equality rally in Belfast attended by thousands. |
| Canon Charles Kenny, who has been a Church of Ireland priest for almost 50 years, compared the opposition to same-sex marriage in the region to the historical hostility to mixed religious unions on the island of Ireland. | Canon Charles Kenny, who has been a Church of Ireland priest for almost 50 years, compared the opposition to same-sex marriage in the region to the historical hostility to mixed religious unions on the island of Ireland. |
| Kenny was joined by Methodist and Presbyterian ministers in calling for gay marriage to be legalised. The Democratic Unionist party, which now formally supports Theresa May’s minority government, has consistently blocked moves towards marital equality. | Kenny was joined by Methodist and Presbyterian ministers in calling for gay marriage to be legalised. The Democratic Unionist party, which now formally supports Theresa May’s minority government, has consistently blocked moves towards marital equality. |
| Speaking on the steps of St Anne’s, the city’s Anglican cathedral, on Saturday – surrounded by gay rights campaigners, trade unionists and human rights organisations – Kenny said: “There was lots of lobbying against mixed religious marriages and nowadays we are all embarrassed about that. And I think in the future we will also be embarrassed about this ban on same sex marriage. | Speaking on the steps of St Anne’s, the city’s Anglican cathedral, on Saturday – surrounded by gay rights campaigners, trade unionists and human rights organisations – Kenny said: “There was lots of lobbying against mixed religious marriages and nowadays we are all embarrassed about that. And I think in the future we will also be embarrassed about this ban on same sex marriage. |
| “I grew up in the 1950s and I know what is was like. If I had had a girlfriend who was Catholic, for some people the sky would have fallen in. Thank goodness that kind of attitude doesn’t happen often now so this current ban is comparable to those old sectarian attitudes.” | “I grew up in the 1950s and I know what is was like. If I had had a girlfriend who was Catholic, for some people the sky would have fallen in. Thank goodness that kind of attitude doesn’t happen often now so this current ban is comparable to those old sectarian attitudes.” |
| Chris Hudson, a non-subscribing Presbyterian minister and peace campaigner, made a personal appeal to the DUP to allow a free vote in the next Stormont assembly on the issue. | Chris Hudson, a non-subscribing Presbyterian minister and peace campaigner, made a personal appeal to the DUP to allow a free vote in the next Stormont assembly on the issue. |
| Hudson called on the DUP not to use the so-called petition of concern, which the party deployed in the last vote on marriage equality to block its passage in the regional parliament. The petition allows any party to veto legislation if it can argue the law would not have sufficient cross-community or Protestant-Catholic support. | Hudson called on the DUP not to use the so-called petition of concern, which the party deployed in the last vote on marriage equality to block its passage in the regional parliament. The petition allows any party to veto legislation if it can argue the law would not have sufficient cross-community or Protestant-Catholic support. |
| Hudson said: “I hope soon that we will have a power -sharing executive and an assembly up and running again. So I want to make a particular appeal to the Democratic Unionist party not to use a petition of concern. I ask them kindly and in all sincerity not to do it because I know many people who vote DUP yet still support marriage equality. The DUP discriminates against some of their own voters … They should simply allow for a free vote on a simple majority basis the next time we have a pro-equality motion coming forward in the assembly.” | Hudson said: “I hope soon that we will have a power -sharing executive and an assembly up and running again. So I want to make a particular appeal to the Democratic Unionist party not to use a petition of concern. I ask them kindly and in all sincerity not to do it because I know many people who vote DUP yet still support marriage equality. The DUP discriminates against some of their own voters … They should simply allow for a free vote on a simple majority basis the next time we have a pro-equality motion coming forward in the assembly.” |
| No one was at the rally from the Catholic church although Hudson said he knew Catholic priests who backed gay marriage. | No one was at the rally from the Catholic church although Hudson said he knew Catholic priests who backed gay marriage. |
| Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK or Ireland and one of the few places left in the EU where same-sex couples cannot get married. | Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK or Ireland and one of the few places left in the EU where same-sex couples cannot get married. |
| But there appears to be widespread public support for marriage equality. In June 2016, an Ipsos MORI poll found that 70% of the Northern Ireland were in favour. | But there appears to be widespread public support for marriage equality. In June 2016, an Ipsos MORI poll found that 70% of the Northern Ireland were in favour. |
| The thousands who marched from Writer’s Square to Belfast City Hall – among them drag queens, gay couples, grandmothers and pet dogs draped in the rainbow flag – heard messages of support from Hollywood stars. | The thousands who marched from Writer’s Square to Belfast City Hall – among them drag queens, gay couples, grandmothers and pet dogs draped in the rainbow flag – heard messages of support from Hollywood stars. |
| A message from Ballymena-born actor Liam Neeson stated: “We’ve had enough of a history in our society in Northern Ireland of discrimination, mistrust and hatred. Yet, we’re also an open-hearted, welcoming and terrific people. Let us show that to the world by treating gay, lesbian and transgender peoples as our brothers and sisters and allowing them to marry, if they so wish.” | A message from Ballymena-born actor Liam Neeson stated: “We’ve had enough of a history in our society in Northern Ireland of discrimination, mistrust and hatred. Yet, we’re also an open-hearted, welcoming and terrific people. Let us show that to the world by treating gay, lesbian and transgender peoples as our brothers and sisters and allowing them to marry, if they so wish.” |
| Among those leading the rally was Belfast’s newly elected lord mayor, Nuala McAllister, from the cross-community Alliance party. | Among those leading the rally was Belfast’s newly elected lord mayor, Nuala McAllister, from the cross-community Alliance party. |
| Holding her baby Finn in her arms, McAllister said: “Belfast city council has already passed a motion before in favour of marriage equality and I do hope we see it in this city and across Northern Ireland very soon.” | Holding her baby Finn in her arms, McAllister said: “Belfast city council has already passed a motion before in favour of marriage equality and I do hope we see it in this city and across Northern Ireland very soon.” |
| Pointing to 10-month-old Finn, she added: “This is the first rally I have attended as first citizen of Belfast and it’s a great start to show leadership on this issue. And this is Finn’s first rally too and he loves all the colours.” | Pointing to 10-month-old Finn, she added: “This is the first rally I have attended as first citizen of Belfast and it’s a great start to show leadership on this issue. And this is Finn’s first rally too and he loves all the colours.” |
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