Chai Brady
Funding threat compels change
The decision of the Church’s marriage agency Accord to offer same-sex couples access to their counselling service is not “sending out the right message” about Church teaching theologians have told The Irish Catholic.
A spokesperson for the hierarchy confirmed that Accord is opening its counselling services to same-sex couples
“Our counsellors respectfully accompany all who come to Accord bearing witness to their dignity,” a spokesperson said.
Accord was faced with possible closure when funding was threatened to be removed if they didn’t comply with Tusla’s new 2018 service level agreement. This aims to ensure service providers receiving public funds adhere to Ireland’s equality legislation.
“Helping people is in harmony with the Gospel, but they would need to do it in a way that doesn’t seem to contradict the Church’s understanding of marriage,” Theologian Dr John Murphy told The Irish Catholic.
“This is confusing to me that they would be treating same-sex relationships or same-sex marriages in the same way as they would treat Catholic marriages.”
Dr Murray also said that the State should not threaten the Catholic ethos of organisations just because they are in receipt of taxpayers’ funds. He said a truly pluralist society should “allow organisation to operate with integrity and in harmony with their ethos”.
Tusla said Accord has given assurances to “provide counselling services regardless of sexual orientation and comply with the agreement”.
The Government agency added they would be monitoring service providers to ensure compliance.
“I think with regard to counselling, general counselling for individuals, that’s a possibility. But counselling people who are in a [same sex] relationship, which is supposed to be a marriage relationship, doesn’t quite seem to be sending out the right message, to put it mildly,” said Dr Vincent Twomey, former Editor of the Irish Theological Quarterly.
A spokesperson for the bishops’ conference said that as a Catholic agency, Accord’s “primary objective is to promote and support sacramental marriage”.
However, they added: “our counsellors respectfully accompany all who come to Accord bearing witness to their dignity”.
“The Accord counselling room is a sacred space where hope can be restored and healing can begin. Our service is confidential, non-directive and non-judgemental.”