Storm on the Thames: British Catholics Upset, Anti-Papal Winds Strong

British Catholic groups accuse the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, of following the Vatican’s guidelines, on homosexuality and civil partnerships, too closely

Giacomo Galeazzi
vatican city

There is a wind of "anti-papal" sentiment blowing along the banks of the Thames. What is stirring things up, is a controversy with distinctly archaic overtones. British Catholic groups are accusing the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, of following the Vatican’s guidelines (on homosexuality and civil partnerships) too closely. Being in line with the Holy See should be the norm for the head of a national church, and yet the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has been forced to publicly defend himself against claims that have been made against him by Catholic groups in the United Kingdom, for his “excessive alignment with Rome” when it comes to family ethics. The way the Catholic Church sees it, married couples have the role of guaranteeing the succession of generations and are therefore of great public interest, therefore civil law institutionally recognises them. In contrast, same-sex unions do not require any particular attention from the judicial system, in that they do not have this role in the common good. Gay men and women, both in their private capacity and as citizens, can always resort to common law (as can all citizens and on the basis of their private individual independence) to safeguard judicial situations of reciprocal interest. Therefore, Mgr. Nichols is simply repeating the teachings of the Church.

In Great Britain, as in the rest of the Catholic world. “These unfair accusations made against the President of Catholic Bishops reflect past prejudices and are the consequence of an inveterate mistrust that has its roots in past centuries,” says Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, the Vatican’s former foreign minister. “In England, even within the Catholic community, there are still remnants of a preconceived hostility towards the positions adopted by the Holy See. A hostility that no longer has any reason to exist.” In short, a “geopolitical” hostility that looks backwards instead of judging the merit of individual issues. In truth, Cardinal Silvestrini said, “we are talking about the reaffirmation of fundamental principles of the Church’s teaching and therefore it is perfectly normal that the same words that echo in Rome should also be heard in Great Britain and in the rest of the Catholic world.” Despite that, we are suffering “a legacy of old tensions with the central government of the universal Church, to the point where even its leaders must be careful not too look too ‘papist’.” Indeed, the Church’s teachings cannot establish any analogy between matrimony and same-sex unions, because there is no basis for assimilating homosexual unions and God’s plans for matrimony and family. Marriage is sacred, while homosexual relationships go against the laws of natural morality and in the Bible, homosexual relationships are condemned as serious depravation. Faced with the accusation of “defending the Vatican’s guidelines on same-sex civil partnerships,” Archbishop Vincent Nichols, a bona fide Ratzingerian and highly esteemed both in the Curia and among the ranks of European bishops, replied on 1 December that he was simply trying to defend “the profound human good” of traditional marriage and he went on to say: “We’ve got to find ways of speaking to people about the positive values of marriage as it’s always been understood, while not getting boxed off by somehow being accused of being homophobic.” The head of the English Church believes that “stability in our society depends on the stability of family life.” Hence it is necessary for all priests to promote marriage and provide real encouragement to young people and young couples, so that they may embark upon the path towards marriage.

According to Mgr. Nichols, this is the root of the need to promote the close links between marriage, family life and the stability of society. Therefore marriage – as a basic foundation for a stable family and an excellent environment in which to raise children – must be supported today, in this country, if we really want to pursue the common good of all, both on a political and economic level. The Church stresses the difference between homosexual behaviour as a private phenomenon and homosexual behaviour as a social relationship that is legally recognised and approved (to the point of becoming an institution with legal provision). In spite of the accusations made by groups of believers, the English Church’s teachings do not allow for any discrimination against homosexuals, but spring from a consistent approach in emphasising the importance of the presence of God for spouses, in that marriage without God is no more than a case of personal preference and gratification.

In such circumstances, there is no reason to make a serious commitment when the initial gratification is over and personal preferences seem to prove incorrect. Only the presence of God makes the true nature of marriage clear and only the grace of God can complete and renew the relationship between two people. On the other hand, if same-sex civil unions were to be made legal, this would mean the approval of a deviant form of behaviour, turning it into a model for society, blurring basic values such as marriage and the family. The concept of marriage would undergo radical change, seriously damaging the common good: it would lose its essential characteristics, tied to heterosexuality as a procreative and educational duty. In as far as gay relationships are concerned, the Catholic Church – in Great Britain as in the rest of the world – is simply asking the state not to proceed with the legalisation on same-sex unions and to avoid making their legal status equal to that of marriage, with access to those rights that belong to marriage. Thus Mgr. Nichols has only repeated what is a common approach of the universal Church, with the full consent of his colleagues, the bishops of the United Kingdom and Rome.

Storm on the Thames: British Catholics Upset, Anti-Papal Winds Strong

British Catholic groups accuse the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, of following the Vatican’s guidelines, on homosexuality and civil partnerships, too closely

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