Just to let everyone know the news reported below and also reported on the BBC, with a vote of 168 to 122 an inspite of several impassioned speeches in opposition by the Anglican hierarchy.
The regulations have now been approved by both Houses and enter into force on the 30th April.
I will blog about the debate later.
For now I will simply say "Praise be".
I, along with many other colleagues in the Labour Party and union movement (especially noting UNISON's LGBT committee which has been camapigning almost solidly on this for a year and a half, as has the Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights).
We argued our case, campaigned, lobbied and argued. It was never easy, never a given and we never gave up even when we were told there was no hope.
We faced huge opposition from the religious right, that has now become an entrenched force in our political life (sadly). We have now acquired vicious and determined enemies that include no less than the entire hierarchy of the Church of England (no bother - they also opposed an equal age of consent and the removal of section 28). Yet the record will reflect who our enemies and this hatred of us will not melt away immediately, though no doubt will do so with time.
So I will be raising a glass (or two .....) to a great piece of work including many, many people and - all in all - a job well done.
Now for the next challenge.
Really good coverage (as always) - especially about the 'rally' on the Zefrog blogsite.
More comment to be added later. Bye for now.
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Praise be, indeed!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe question now is what will "they" come up with next...
Let's not forget also that we have get some nasty surprises in what the cross party working group will find as a compromise to accomodate Catholic adoption agencies...
Hmmmmm
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I prefer not to think about that.
I was kind of assuming that they might alter the way that the adoption process worked so that the Catholics were kindof doing less of it.
But we'll see. Now that the regs are law, that is a proper basis to negotiate. It would be quite difficult for the government to amend the regs by way of watering them down.
You may be interested in this website for a more balanced Christian view:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/
Cheers.
Yes, I might add that to my links page.
ReplyDeleteI think it's worth stating that Ekklesia and Faithworks worked hard to do what the Archbishop of Canterbury ought to have been doing.
I intend to return to this theme in future posts.
Is it?
ReplyDeleteThere were only bishops opposing the regulations (both speaking and voting) and the speech by the Archbishop of York I think made things pretty clear.
The Archbishop of Canterbury had made his position clear in previous interventions (not within the House of Lords), notably in his letter to the Prime Minister that we all know about.
There may be some bishops who don't agree with the party line and indeed I am sure there are. They haven't however been able to express themselves on this subject (for whatever reason) unless I've missed something.
As the French say "Qui ne dit mot consent" ~ he who says nothing consents.