Dear Editor, In relation to Bishop Kirby’s contribution to the conference ‘Let’s talk Family, let’s be Family (IC 20/07/2017), the State definition of marriage “which cannot be described in terms of traditional Christian doctrine” is at odds with the Christian definition of marriage (“the creator from the beginning made them male and female…is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body”), perhaps now is the time for the State to adopt the approach of continental Europe where the civil registration of marriage takes place away from any denominational building (church, synagogue, mosque or temple) and ministers of religion are no longer required to be solemnisers of weddings.
Yours etc.,
Fr Oliver Skelly,
Coole, Co. Westmeath.