UK Bishops Issue Diversity and Equality Guidelines

There seems to have some reports yesterday that may have been slightly inaccurate. There is really no need to go over those. We can look to the document issued by the Bishops to see exactly what they say:

In recent years, a series of EU Directives on Race, Employment and Equal Treatment has established a common framework within the European Union to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief and age. The Government has passed UK legislation to implement these Directives and it intends to establish a new single Commission on Equality and Human Rights.

In the light of these developments, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has issued a Policy Statement and Guidelines dealing with diversity and equality.

We can see, from a misreading of the document, that the teachings of the Church may seem distorted. Look, for example, at Paragraph 28:

28. The Catholic community includes people of heterosexual, homosexual and bi-sexual orientation. Every human being, whatever his or her sexual orientation, has the right to live a life free from discrimination and harassment, and we welcome new legislation which protects this right. Moreover, people of all sexual orientations have a right to take a full and active part in the life of the Catholic community.

This statement, taken by itself, could be, and probably was, a source of confusion for many.

However, when one continues reading the next pargraph, the confusion should be abated:

29. Catholic teaching, of course, makes a distinction between sexual orientation and sexual activity, and it holds that all men and women are called to a life of chastity, and to fidelity if they choose to marry. Catholic organisations and institutions ask their members and staff to respect this teaching.

Hopefully, a full and careful study of the document will be done - this would diminish the tendency which some of us have to jump to conclusions and rash judgements based on partial and incomplete information or emotion. Perhaps, even as some of us in the US have come to view with skepticism many of the statements and documents of our Bishops, some of us, as a consequence, look with skepticism at the documents and statements from other Bishops' conferences?

I have not read the complete document, and must therefore, withhold opinions regarding its fidelity or prudence. My only initial reaction, however, is that we must strive, with Gods grace, to change the culture which will naturally follow from the conversions of hearts and minds to Christ. We must be in the world but not of the world. We cannot embrace evil as good. We must speak the truth always, without hesitation or fear of ridicule or fear of persecution.

The document of the Bishops of England and Wakes may be viewed here.