Johannesburg (Fides Service) - The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference SACBC is concerned about the implications of the recent Constitutional Court decision granting parenting rights to same-sex partners. In a media statement issued 25 April, the Bishops' Conference "reaffirms its commitment to promoting and defending the equal dignity of all persons including homosexual persons. The SACBC recognises and welcomes the many homosexual men and women who are deeply committed members of the Church and opposes any exclusion from the Church, prejudice or discrimination based simply on sexual orientation. However out of concern for the best interest of the child and the Christian sacrament of marriage, the SACBC is worried about the implications of the recent Court decision."
The Bishops say "this implicates that the same-sex relationships will have the same status as marriage in South Africa. Even if there are some legal nuances that might justify a claim that same-sex partners are still not recognised equally to marriage partners, the public perception of the Constitutional Court decision is that marriage and same-sex partnerships are now equal in legal status."
This is why "the SACBC reiterates the teaching of the Catholic Church that same sex partnerships cannot be recognised as Christian sacramental marriages because they do not represent a complementary union that is able to transmit life, according to the rich symbolism and meaning of the Creator's sexual design and the Gospel call to that form of union and self-giving recognised in the sacrament of marriage."
The Bishops voice concern for the psychological effects on children "The decision makes reference to the possibility if one of the partners suffering devastating psychological effects if not called a parent. But the court made no reference to equally possible and grave psychological effects that could be suffered by children reared in such a setting. Stable and responsible heterosexual marriage remains the most appropriate context in which to raise children".
The Bishops say that "when two people of the same sex enter into a permanent relationship they might be granted the right to share assets and inheritance rights, but the right to generate and jointly parent children must be excluded." LM (Fides Service 28/4/2003 EM lines 34 Words: 400)