Purley church leader: 'Gay marriage is unwelcome'
A LONGSTANDING church leader has fuelled the debate over gay marriage by saying it is "not welcome".
Canon Jim Pannett, 75, who on Saturday marked 50 years of priesthood, said the issue of same-sex marriage has become "in your face" and that it contradicts the Bible's teachings.
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Jim Pannett, leader of St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Purley, this week said same-sex marriage is "not welcome"
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Croydon councillor Wayne Lawlor, who is in a civil partnership, branded the comments "narrow-minded"
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Jim Pannett, leader of St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Purley, this week said same-sex marriage is "not welcome"
The head of St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Dale Road, Purley – who teaches children in services and assemblies at six local schools including John Fisher and St Thomas More – oversees a 1,500-strong congregation and was responsible for organising Pope John Paul II's 1982 visit to London.
Speaking of his stance, Canon Pannett said: "It is taken on board and recognised but not welcome. It goes against the tradition of the Church and its teachings.
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"When I started my training in 1962, no one would have even thought to mention the issue."
The leader's comments reveal how divided Croydon's religious community is following a number of high-profile public debates over the issue.
Last month, Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell hosted a public meeting at Croydon Town Hall attended by religious figures to discuss same-sex marriages while the Government explores the possibility of legalising it.
The Rev Art Lester, head of the church of Croydon Unitarians, branded Canon Pannett's comments "ignorant".
He said: "Nobody has the full story and therefore the right to impose dogmatic rules on anyone else. We see this as a form of ignorance that in 50 years' time will seem ridiculous to the people who once believed in it.
"These people continue doing more harm than good and they should have their knuckles wrapped for it. I find them predictable and intolerant.
"We have been doing same-sex legal blessings for more than 50 years."
The Advertiser last month reported how an Anglican preacher at All Saint's Church in Sanderstead had encouraged his congregation to sign a petition against same-sex marriage.
Peter Gowlland, 78, a lay reader at the church, had reportedly asked the congregation to be "bold like the Apostles" and sign the Coalition For Marriage petition.
Croydon councillor Wayne Lawlor, who is in a civil partnership but cannot get married to his partner in England or the US, said: "The Catholic Church needs to come into the 21st century and leave the medieval ages behind.
"I take the line that their comments are based on intolerance and narrow-mindedness, but I respect their right to believe in whatever they want to."
Ross Burgess, secretary of the Croydon Area Gay Society, said: "Clearly the Catholic Church is opposed to gay marriage and wouldn't want to conduct them. But I do know Catholics who are not completely opposed to it.
"No one is going to force the Catholic Church to conduct same-sex marriages. I think that would be wrong in terms of religious freedom, but given there are some religions that would like to, they should be able to."
Gay people who form civil partnerships are now entitled to the same property rights, exemptions on inheritance tax, social security and pension benefits, and can also get parental responsibility for a partner’s children.
A civil partnership is formed when a same-sex pair register as civil partners of each other, ending only in death, dissolution or annulment, in the presence of a registrar and two witnesses while signing the civil partnership document
Prime Minister David Cameron suggested the Government is planning to legalise gay marriage after telling a Tory conference in Manchester last year: "I don’t support gay marriage in spite of being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I am a Conservative."
The legal implications remain unresolved. Churches may be forced to accept gay ceremonies as those who refuse to conduct them could face legal challenges under existing rights legislation.
However, it is thought most gay couples would opt not to be married in a place of worship. It is currently prohibited for any religious readings, music or symbols to be included in civil partnership ceremonies.
Comments
by CuppaTeaPlz
Wednesday, July 11 2012, 10:02PM
“http://tinyurl.com/5sjabr”
by Crease2000
Wednesday, July 11 2012, 3:58AM
“Adam and Steve is one thing. Adam and Eve is a questionable relationship that wouldn't even be legal in our present time.”
by CuppaTeaPlz
Tuesday, July 10 2012, 10:51PM
“When he gets the them purley gates, his in big trouble..lol”
by Ivor_Shed
Monday, July 09 2012, 9:38AM
“It's a good job bullying is being stamped out in schools because an adopted child is not going to find it easy to say his parents are Adam & Steve.......”
by DianaFrance
Saturday, July 07 2012, 3:37PM
“I think we are risking losing the plot here: we aren't talking about homosexuality per se, but about marriage between homosexuals.
When homosexuality was illegal gays married straight partners, in church, to give an impression of normality and to hide their homosexuality under a gloss of conformity. What horrible hypocrisy that was. Now gays can live together with the same rights as married heterosexual couples, recognised by the state, however many religions will not recognise their relationship as a marriage.
Surely the next step is to move on from Civil Partnerships to Civil Marriages (ie in a Register Office) as I could never see what the difference was between the two. Once the state recognises these long-term contracts of mutual commitment as a marriage just like that between heterosexual couples, maybe society will come to respect them too.
Religious marriage may follow, through some religions, some sects, some parishes, but to force religions into performing gay marriages counter to their faith is just wrong, whether we agree with the faith or not: many sects will exclude any member to dares to take a partner from outside the sect, let alone one of a different religion, so persuading them to marry homosexuals would probably be impossible.
I'd like to read some input from our muslim friends on this topic, and any rabbis who may be following this thread.”
by Crease2000
Saturday, July 07 2012, 1:57PM
“I take it that Canon Jim Pannett isn't attending the World Pride event in London today.”
by podgygooner
Saturday, July 07 2012, 11:46AM
“Well done Canon Jim for providing some leadership on this matter which has been sadly lacking from the Church in England (unlike our Scottish counterparts).”
by NHSExec
Friday, July 06 2012, 8:38PM
“@Chris_Wilcox
If "society" says something is ok then provision of law to allow civil ceremonies to take place will be set up.
However society dictating to religions as to who has to be allowed to be married on their premises is a complete non starter. What would you intend? Fining a church, a vicar or priest?
And you would enforce this on Mosques as well?
You are as bloody minded as any religious fundamentalist.”
by BHLiberal
Friday, July 06 2012, 6:57PM
“@Chris_Wilcox
I'm sorry but what has the Boss got to do with it? If an individual feels that they will be discriminated against they would have redress in law. They don't have to tell anyone. The point I was making was that it is my belief that the overwhelming majority of people who enter civil partnerships are out.
You are also right that the Catholic Church has made some "iffy" decisions in the past. Neither should I be are to feel I have to apologise for them. I wouldn't expect you to apologise for what Chairman Mao, Ceaucescu or Pol Pot have done in the past.
As I said, I have nothing in principle against Civil Gay Marriage. What I do not want to happen is that Churches and other religious organisations are forced to conduct these marriages without there being an opt out. After all, that wouldn't be equality would it.”
by Chris_Wilcox
Friday, July 06 2012, 6:02PM
“@NHSExec: If Society says 'gay marriage is fine' then how do a Gay Catholic couple get married if this chap ( for example ) refuses the ceremony?
What about the rights of the Gay couple? What about their faith?”