South African Court’s “Yes” to Same-Sex Marriage Leaves Church Policy Unchanged

SAF 051202-1 December 2, 2005

Statement from Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane on Constitutional Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriages

[SAF - Southern Africa] The ruling of the Constitutional Court is a carefully considered judgement weighing up competing rights in the light of the South African Constitution. We appreciate the sensitivity in which the court has approached this matter.

This ruling does not compel any religious denomination or minister of religion to approve or perform same-sex marriages, therefore it should not cause alarm.

To quote a summary of this ruling:

“Acknowledgement by the state of the right of same-sex couples to enjoy the same status, entitlements and responsibilities as marriage law accords to heterosexual couples, is in no way inconsistent with the rights of religious organisations to continue to refuse to celebrate same-sex marriages. The two sets of interests do not collide, they co-exist in a constitutional realm based on the accommodation of diversity.”

We recognise that we live in a country which is home to many beliefs, cultures and practices. It would be arrogant and presumptuous of us to attempt to force our values and viewpoints on people who think differently from us. We would wish to value diversity in the way demonstrated today by the Constitutional Court.

Having said that however, the Anglican Church’s position is clear. We have repeatedly affirmed that we do not regard partnership between two persons of the same sex as a marriage in the eyes of God. At present there is ongoing discussion and debate about matters of human sexuality within the Anglican Church in Southern Africa and throughout the world, but while this continues, our stance remains the same.

We continue to call on our people to celebrate the joy of Christian marriage as a lifelong holy partnership between husband and wife under God’s blessing, to practice sexual abstinence before and outside the marriage bond, to show concern and compassion to those struggling with broken relationships, to avoid and resist all forms of abuse or exploitation and to continue in love and respect for all those with whom we relate from day to day.