DREADCLARITY: Pope Benedict XVI, The Equality Bill, The Sexual Orientation Regulations, UK, Wales, Discrimination, Homosexuals & Natural Law

:: Update ::

DREADNOUGHT's post featured on the New York Times Pope Benedict XVI site, ranking second (above offerings from the Associated Press and The Scotsman). The entries are selected by New York Times editors.

NYTimes.com - Pope Benedict XVI News (February 11, 2010).

:: A “New Social Order”? ::

DREADNOUGHTERS, especially English-speakers, have been following the controversy surrounding the Equality Bill in the UK Parliament (thank you for your messages). The Bill had passed the House of Commons but, after what was termed an unusually blunt intervention by the Holy Father in the internal affairs of a nominally Protestant state, the Bill stalled in the House of Lords. The Bill is of particular interest because the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, while supporting the general thrust and many of the key protections, have opposed certain provisions relating to "sexual orientation" which, the Bishops maintained, threatened to limit religious freedom.

:: Natural Law / Positivism ::

DREADNOUGHTER Brother Lawrence Lew OP, of Blackfriars Oxford, has put together a readable précis of the Catholic thinking that likely informed the Holy Father’s statements. It is useful for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Most helpfully, by couching the controversy in the language of natural law and natural rights, one can appropriately parse the debate.

:: Justice / Equality ::

One can discern, for instance, how it is that one of the signal consequences of the Catholic teaching on human sexuality - that one cannot unjustly discriminate against same sex attracted men and women on the basis of their experiencing same sex attractions - coheres with the view that, in some circumstances, discrimination on the basis of public statements and other action (i.e. homoactivism) may be licit (where it is not necessary for the preservation of meaning). Indeed, there may even be times - when choosing men for priests, when choosing the Head of a Catholic school, for instance - when it is right and good to allow religious groups to follow the dictates of conscience - against the treatment of equality as an intrinsic good.

:: The Upshot ::

Let us be clear: this Bill would have the State actively instructing private individuals and groups in matters of conscience and religion. UK Citizens would have to comply with the legislation, or face penalty. The Bishops claim, indeed, that the Bill "raises some serious difficulties" with regard to religious freedom, difficulties which "will seriously hamper their work in [the UK]". DREADNOUGHTERS, of course, especially in Massachusetts will be familiar with similar instances elsewhere.

:: Resources ::

- Equality Bill (Full Text + UK Government Documents);

- Mandatory Sex / Social Curriculum in "Faith" Schools; and

- Documents from the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales.

DREADPUBLISHING: John Heard Reviews 'In Search of Civilization: Remaking a Tarnished Idea' by John Armstrong - The Spectator Australia

:: Update ::

DREADNOUGHT's review of John Armstrong's new book on civilization was published recently in the Australian edition of The Spectator. The review is written for a general, non-specialist audience. While it does not explicitly engage the Catholic teaching on human sexuality, the general tone and broad concepts treated (i.e. truth, beauty, and goodness) should be of interest.

:: The Upshot ::

DREADNOUGHTERS can keep up with DREADNOUGHT's other writing (on political, cultural, and social themes) by checking The Spectator archive (it is free) or subscribing to the magazine. There is also a collection of related material here.