The Catholic Church in New Zealand this week has said that the Civil Union bill will not deter it from preaching against homosexuality, even if it faces legal sanctions for doing so, because the church will not condone sodomy. Associate Justice Minister David Benson-Pope, who is sponsoring the bill through Parliament, said yesterday: "All I would do is suggest that they see the bill before they make uninformed comment." MP Tim Barnett said also there was nothing in existing or proposed legislation, that would result in the church being penalised for speaking its mind. Bishop Peter Cullinane defended the Church's stance, saying that they did not teach discrimination. "The Catholic Church teaches very clearly that the homosexual persons are entitled to the same love and respect as any other person." But this did not mean the church had to condone sodomy, he added.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Saturday, 17th April 2004 - 12:00pm