A chara, - Mary Stewart (August 7th) asserts that homosexuality is against the law of God and argues that those in the Vatican who drew up the recent publication on same-sex unions are not filled with hatred and intolerance.
I do not believe that the Bible was ever intended as a strict code of laws; and in any event, various aspects of it can be interpreted in any number of ways. I am presuming that it is the Bible that Mrs Stewart views as the law of God.
My understanding of God is one of love, forgiveness, understanding and tolerance. As a public representative, I believe that these are the values that should guide me in my political work. If two men or two women are in a long-term, loving, committed relationship, there is no reason why they should not be afforded the protection and support of the State in areas such as taxation, inheritance and social welfare.
I will be calling on my party while in Government to enact appropriate legislation in that regard.
I would challenge those in the Vatican and the Catholic Church leadership in Ireland to show tolerance and understanding and to offer to meet gay and lesbian groups. I would urge that they learn the lessons from the way in which they handled other matters in recent years and not make the same mistakes again of failing to listen, failing to understand and failing to act in a truly Christian manner. - Is mise,
Cllr MALCOLM BYRNE, (Fianna Fáil), Ramsfort Avenue, Gorey, Co Wexford.