TOP STORY: Bay MPs say yes to civil unions

Marty Sharpe and Chris Gardner
Hawke's Bay's four MPs yesterday voted in favour of the Civil Union Bill, but some of the region's church leaders are today calling it an "abomination" and comparing homosexuals to "liars, thieves, or someone who avoids taxes".
Tukituki MP Rick Barker, Napier MP Russell Fairbrother, East Coast MP Janet Mackey and Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer are in favour of the Bill, while the region's Christian leaders appear hell-bent against it.
Bishop Peter Cullinane, Catholic bishop of Palmerston North diocese (which includes Hawke's Bay), is urging congregations to remember how local MPs voted when it comes time for the next election.
Bishop Cullinane is one of nine of the 'New Zealand Bishops Together' who have written to their churches, saying the Bill would erode the "special and unique position of marriage and the family" in New Zealand society.
"If you put same sex relationships and de facto relationships on the same footing as marriage then you are effectively saying that marriage is just one option," the Bishops say in a letter sent to the churches.
Pastor of the City Assembly of God in Tamatea, Ken McLoughlin, takes it a step further, comparing homosexuals to liars and thieves.
"I'd be opposed to homosexuality in the same way as someone who is a liar, a thief, or someone who avoids taxes. A homosexual is in the same category as someone who robs a bank or who breaks into a house.
"It's an abomination. God did not approve of sex outside of marriage. We as a church have been praying against it because we don't want to see it passed," Mr McLoughlin said. Pastor of the Napier Christian Fellowship, Steve Carney, takes a similarly harsh line.
"I think were going down a bad road. It's certainly going to destroy society, the cornerstone of society; family. Immoral acts will be public in our schools. Most churches are praying and fasting across the nation," he said. The Bishop of Waiapu, the Rt Rev John Bluck, takes a more liberal stance.
"I don't believe the Christian understanding of marriage as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman is compromised by this Bill and I don't think it reasonable or accurate to explain the stresses on marriage by blaming other forms of partnership," Bishop Bluck said.
"In fact, I don't understand why Christians don't welcome the desire for permanent, faithful, committed relationships, whatever our sexual orientation." Bishop Bluck said.
Rev Brett Walker, minister at St Columba's Presbyterian Church, said: "I'm bit of a pragmatist. My emphasis is on building healthy relationships. Obviously my preference is that people are in a heterosexual relationship, but I recognise that some people aren't. I think it's up to the churches to promote good relationships, rather than saying something else could undermine them".