There is little joy in Christendom this year. The Anglican communion is divided, its Canadian and United States sectors coming under censure from the main body for sanctioning same sex "marriages" and the ordination of a homosexual bishop in the States.

In Ireland, of all countries, the place of the family in the state is coming under attack, and to date the positions of the Church of Ireland and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland are diametrically opposed.

A committee of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) is engaged in examining the provisions in the Irish Constitution dealing with the family. Article 41(1) recognizes the family as "the natural primary and fundamental unit group of society" that enjoys rights "superior to all positive law."

The Church of Ireland has called for radical changes to the definition of the family. The Catholic Church has not yet made public its submission.

The Presbyterian Church upholds the provision in the Constitution, but adds it recognizs the rights of "those in our society to live in a way which does not follow the Christian teaching we espouse. There may be, therefore, issues surrounding tax, inheritance, welfare benefits, etc, that could be re-examined by the Government in relation to those who live in such relationships."

It is emphatic in its stance that nothing should be done to damage the traditional family, and it rules out extending the status of "marriage" to homosexual or cohabiting heterosexual couples.

"We believe the health of any nation and State is based on the health of its family life", is the core statement in the submission made by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

On the same issue in Canada, the Catholic Church makes its position clear in the following words: "Since marriage is the origin of the family, which is the basic unit of society, it is also vitally important for the future of humanity."

To confer the status of "marriage" on non-reproductive same-sex unions ignores the value of family to the life to the nation, to the state, and to humanity itself.

Canadians wishing to contact their Members of Parliament by e-mail will find their addresses by clicking on this web page.

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