I'd marry gay couples, just not in a church - Fr Bob Maguire

Source: News.com.au

Feb 15 2011

• Priest happy to wed same sex couples
• Admits it's his duty, despite church opposition
• Civil ceremonies allowed in UK churches

PROMINENT Melbourne priest Bob Maguire has revealed he is open to performing civil union ceremonies for gays.

Father Maguire said he would perform a civil ceremony for a homosexual couple - but not in a church. It follows moves in the UK to change laws so gay civil ceremonies can be carried out in churches. Other Melbourne churches rejected the idea yesterday, despite opinion polls showing a majority of Australians support gay marriage.

Pope Benedict last year labelled gay marriage as "among some of the most insidious and dangerous challenges facing the common good today". Fr Maguire said he does not have a personal view on gay civil unions. The 75-year-old said he understood Catholic leaders would not want a gay ceremony in a Catholic church so he would arrange a private event.

"I'd probably consult the bosses and then I'd go back to the clients and tell them we can't do it in here - it's not personal, it's institutional," he said. Fr Maguire said it was "his duty" to help people in need, including gay couples.

"Not only do I have an administrative responsibility but I have also pastoral responsibility and pastoral care would be taking care of the two people involved and their friends and their associates," he said. In Victoria, gay couples can register their relationships with the State Government. The Catholic church yesterday reiterated its opposition to gay civil unions.

The Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Bishop Les Tomlinson, said civil union ceremonies involving homosexual couples were not allowed in any of its Melbourne's churches. The church believed "marriage is a union between a man and a woman".

"Priests are authorised to officiate at weddings according to the Catholic rite and therefore any marriage performed by a Catholic priest must be conducted in accordance with Catholic teaching," he said.

An Anglican Church spokesman said none of its priests are allowed to perform gay civil ceremonies. Uniting Church general secretary Reverend Rob Brown said it had no policy on gay civil unions being performed in its churches.