Potential Clashes Between Religion, Tradition And Secular Law

Question 1

Marriage (quotes) + civil marriage

Answer 1

• a relationship between a man and a woman that is created by God

Marriage in the Church of England :
“ marriage is in its nature a Union permanent and lifelong, for better or worse”
“One man with one woman (…) for the procreation and nurture of children”

Marriage in the Roman Catholic Church :
“A man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole life”

Civil marriage

• legal contract between two people that sets out their rights
• must be secular, cannot be conducted by a minister

Question 2

Clashes between secular and Christian views on marriage

Answer 2

Civil marriage :

• recognised by the Church of England
• Roman Catholic accepts this for non-Catholics but Catholic marriage must take place in a church according to the laws of the church.

Divorce:

• Church of England sees marriage as a “permanent, lifelong union”. It realises that divorce may be inevitable. A divorced person can remarry if the vicar agrees.
• Catholic Church - does not recognise divorce. Marriage is a relationship made by God and humans cannot break it. Divorcees cannot remarry.

Question 3

Annulment

Answer 3

An annulment can cancel a marriage. 
For an annulment to take place:
- the marriage was not conducted by a Catholic priest
- there was an impediment 
- there was a defect in the marriage

Question 4

Christian attitudes to equality laws

Answer 4

Christianity teaches that all people are equal because:

• God created humans and plays a part in each persons creation
• god loves every person
• God created us in his image so each human shares a characteristic of spirituality, creativity and love

“From one man he made every nation of men”
“You are all one in Christ Jesus”

Question 5

The role of women in the church

Answer 5

St Paul writes :
“Women should remain silent in the churches”
“It is disgraceful for a women to speak in the church”
“He is made in the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man”
Corinthians

The Church of England allows women to be ordained as priests and bishops

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that it is against the will of God for women to have leadership roles in the church.

The equality act of 2010 requires equal treatment of men and women in access to employment. Priests, monks, nuns and ministers of religion are exempt from the provisions of the act.