Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh of the Roman Catholic Church. O’Brien is the leader of Roman Catholics in Scotland. He has gained much criticism for his stalwart opposition to the Scottish governments plans to change the law to allow persons of the same gender to marry.
The British Gazette wholeheartedly supports Cardinal O’Brien’s principled stand.
Let us get certain things straight:
This is what getting married in church is all about. The cleric starts off:
“……….we are gathered here in the sight of God and before this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony. Marriage is an honourable estate, instituted by God and blessed by Christ, Who was a willing guest at the marriage in Cana of Galilee, where He performed His first miracle. It is right, therefore, that we bear in mind that marriage is the sacrament of human society, and is not by any to be taken in hand lightly or heedlessly, but reverently and with prayer to God, duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.
Firstly, it was ordained to fulfil God’s holy purpose for mankind, that through the gift of parenthood children might be born, to progress through the earthly experience, and to be brought up in the knowledge of God’s laws and the Way laid down by Christ……..”
And subsequently:
“If any person can show any just cause why this man and this woman may not lawfully be joined together, let him speak or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.”
Then:
“I require and charge you both, as in the sight of God, that if either of you know any cause or impediment why you may not be lawfully joined together in Marriage, you do now confess it.”
British Gazette comment: Pretty obvious isn’t it. Marriage requires one man and one woman. No other combination is acceptable.
Speaking the Truth unto the Nation
