Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

There were concerns that the future of civil marriages in Catholic Churches was under threat.

Has the Catholic Church backtracked on its concerns over their role in weddings?

Read and decide for yourself.

OVER TWO YEARS ago, when the Constitutional Convention was debating same-sex marriage, the Catholic Church sounded a warning.

They seemed to suggest that priests may no longer be able to carry out the civil part of a wedding if same-sex marriage became a reality.

Currently, men and women who get married in a Catholic church also complete the civil part of the ceremony by signing the Marriage Registration form. This must also be overseen and signed by a solemniser of marriages.

The vast majority of solemnisers are Roman Catholic priests and, in a submission to the Constitutional Convention, the church warned that priests may be prevented from carrying out that role if the church and State’s definitions of marriage were different.

The submission says that the Catholic Church does not recognise “any other partnerships or legal unions as having an ethical or legal equivalence with marriage”, which the Church defines as being between a man and a woman.

This is what the the Irish Episcopal Conference, the group made up of the country’s Catholic bishops, said at the time:

“Any change to the definition of marriage would create great difficulties and in the light of this, if there were two totally different definitions of marriage, the Church could no longer carry out the civil element.”

pastedimage-65887-466x500 Roman Catholic solemnisers make up 78% of those registered. TheJournal.ie / NickyRyan TheJournal.ie / NickyRyan / NickyRyan

This warning was repeated again during the referendum campaign as concerns began to mount that Catholics marrying in churches may be forced to have a second civil ceremony.

The Catholic Communications Office repeated the above quote and added the following:

It is important to note that in Ireland the Church and State co-operate closely in the solemnisation of marriages and that in excess of 70% of marriages in the Republic of Ireland are celebrated by couples choosing the Christian celebration of marriage with both elements taking place within the same ceremony.

After the referendum, the Catholic Primate of All Ireland Eamon Martin was asked again about the church’s position. He said they hadn’t seen the legislation yet and needed to “look at all of these issues in due course”.

We were given a lot of assurances during the debate and during the Yes campaign that there would be no threat to the church’s celebration of marriage so we’ll have to wait and see.

Shutterstock-208557535 The church's language seems to have changed over the past two years. Shutterstock Shutterstock

Yesterday, the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference concluded a three-day Summer meeting in which they discussed a rang of matters. Again, marriage was on the agenda.

A statement following the meeting said that bishops appreciated the “commitment and courage” of those who campaigned for a No vote.

“We will continue to reflect on the implications of the referendum in the Bishops’ Conference and its five commissions,” the statement added.

The issue of soleminsing weddings directly came up when it was put to Bishop Eamon Martin by journalists. He seemed to suggest that it was now up to the State to decide if it wants priests to be involved.

He said the question is:

‘Does the State wish the church to continue in that role and will it be constitutional for priests to do so?’

We must wait and see.

Read: Couples may yet be barred from signing their marriage licences in church >

Read: Referendum threat could mean 4,000 fewer priests to sign off on marriages >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
70 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Noonan
    Favourite Declan Noonan
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 11:41 AM

    It’s time to go for a drive over Sally Gap and get stuck

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gis Bayertz
    Favourite Gis Bayertz
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 10:29 AM

    I hate winter and I hate snow. I want spring – NOW!

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John John
    Favourite John John
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 11:29 AM

    I bet when anyone reads the above comment they are singing it in their head

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John John
    Favourite John John
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 11:28 AM

    Oh the weather outside is frightful
    But the fire is so delightful
    And since we’ve no place to go
    Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

    It doesn’t show signs of stopping
    And I’ve bought some corn for popping
    The lights are turned way down low
    Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

    When we finally kiss good night
    How I’ll hate going out in the storm!
    But if you’ll really hold me tight
    All the way home I’ll be warm

    The fire is slowly dying
    And, my dear, we’re still goodbying
    But as long as you love me so
    Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Kavanagh
    Favourite Mary Kavanagh
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 11:40 AM

    Wish I could give this more than one green thumb. Sadly only 0.01mm snow on the cars on our road this am! :-(

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute _doesnotcompute
    Favourite _doesnotcompute
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 10:13 AM

    Blame Canada.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hugo Sanchez
    Favourite Hugo Sanchez
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 10:26 AM

    Hmmmm last photo bit suspect..

    ^ ^ ^ off to google snowflakes

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hugo Sanchez
    Favourite Hugo Sanchez
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 11:08 AM

    Let Fake Flake-Gate begin!!!

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Kelly
    Favourite Fergal Kelly
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 10:16 AM

    I always think snow looks different here. It’s wetter or something like it’s not real snow haha

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute karla carroll
    Favourite karla carroll
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 10:18 AM

    That would be sleet.

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Kelly
    Favourite Fergal Kelly
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 10:20 AM

    No because it’s on the ground sticking like just not properly!

    6
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aaron Broughill
    Favourite Aaron Broughill
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 10:26 AM

    No because when it snows here the temperature is very rarely below zero, in the likes of Canada wheb it snows the temp is well below zero so the snow freezes

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mal
    Favourite Mal
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 1:51 PM

    My wife over here in Sweden calls that wet snow! generally when we get snow here the temperature is at least around -3 degrees. The snow blows around like sand a lot of the time, it’s cold enough that it doesn’t melt on your hands, or clothes, or when the sun is out.
    It’s very different to what I knew as snow at home.
    A couple of weeks ago we had -15 degrees and sunny, it’s awesome! as much fun as warm weather methinks!
    Here’s a picture of a lake we walk across:

    https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_CqLUcAz2sM/URENqUB7-wI/AAAAAAAACnQ/kOzm9FXBODU/s772/20130120_130317.jpg

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tokidoll
    Favourite Tokidoll
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 11:03 AM

    I’m delighted to see my picture in there :-) It was a magical sight and a wonderful surprise to wake up to this morning.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sloan Bonnar
    Favourite Sloan Bonnar
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 12:35 PM

    Best send everyone home from work early, before the buses are taken off the roads early!!!!!

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bláthnaid Belladonna
    Favourite Bláthnaid Belladonna
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 10:21 AM

    Can people send in more

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Denise Friary
    Favourite Denise Friary
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 10:48 AM

    Another week we will be into the mild weather.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Redcaff
    Favourite Redcaff
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 11:21 AM

    You mean ‘Summer’.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aileen Carroll
    Favourite Aileen Carroll
    Report
    Feb 6th 2013, 8:08 AM

    No spring comes first

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lee Jones
    Favourite Lee Jones
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 12:38 PM

    bah not a screed in kinsealy feck it

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bláthnaid Belladonna
    Favourite Bláthnaid Belladonna
    Report
    Feb 5th 2013, 10:22 AM

    I got the answer. Just didn’t c it the first time.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kerry Quinn
    Favourite Kerry Quinn
    Report
    Mar 26th 2013, 10:49 PM

    Come on now! Alittle bit of snow. Kick back and have a pint.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kerry Quinn
    Favourite Kerry Quinn
    Report
    Mar 26th 2013, 10:40 PM

    Come on now! A little bit of snow. Kick back and have a pint with friends.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds