A Statement from the Provincial Council on the Church of England House of Bishops' Pastoral Statement on Civil Partnerships

At a meeting of the Provincial Council of the European Province of the Society of Catholic Priests on Tuesday 28th January 2020, the following statement was unanimously agreed:

 Provincial Council wishes to express its disappointment and frustration at the recent publication of a pastoral statement by the Church of England House of Bishops on Civil Partnerships.

 Whilst there was nothing new in the statement, the blunt reiteration of the Church of England’s position on marriage ahead of the publication of the House of Bishops’ work on Living in Love and Faith was pastorally insensitive to those who seek to exemplify the love of Christ in their relationships and long for our blessing. It also suggests that the ‘thinking and learning about what it means to embody a Christian vision of living in love and faith in our culture’ promised by the project is lacking. 

 We are thankful that a number of Bishops have since expressed their disappointment at the publication, including the Bishop of Gloucester and the Bishop of Norwich. We invite other Bishops to speak out against the insensitive timing of this statement.

 We await the publication of the Living in Love and Faith report in the hope that the process has born fresh fruit for our thinking about human relationships, but this statement has done nothing to suggest that it has. 

 Ends.