Maronite Bishops: Those who Marry in Civil Union Must Complement it with Religious Ceremony
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The Maronite Bishops council noted on Wednesday that the civil marriage debate in Lebanon should be approached from constitutional and religious perspectives, saying that this form of union was addressed in the constitution.
It said: “Those who marry in a civil union must complement it was a religious ceremony.”
It made its statement after its weekly meeting, headed by Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, at Bkirki.
“The state must respect all religions and civil marriage should be introduced in Lebanon after amending the constitution,” it explained.
“Marriage is a holy union however and civil marriage should not replace the religious one,” said the council.
On discussions over a new parliamentary electoral law, the bishops urged officials to reach an agreement over the issue, warning that time is running is short ahead of the elections, which are scheduled for June.
“Officials should chose a law that best represents Christians and Muslims and that protects coexistence,” they remarked.
Commenting the recent Arsal clash, they voiced their concern over the latest instability, while condemning the assault against the military and security forces.
“The state must firmly impose the laws and citizens must respect official security and military institutions,” stressed the Maronite Bishops council.
Two officers were killed in the Bekaa town of Arsal on February 1 as the army was seeking to arrest a wanted suspect, who was killed in the ensuing clash.
The debate over civil marriage in Lebanon has created divisions among the religious and political classes in the country.
President Michel Suleiman has openly advocated it, while Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani had rejected it.
Qabbani issued a fatwa against moves to legalize civil marriage, branding as an apostate any Muslim politician who approves it.
The controversy was sparked when Kholoud Succariyeh and Nidal Darwish announced in January that they had wed as a secular couple by having their religious sects legally struck from their family registers under an article dating from the 1936 French mandate.
06 February 2013, 14:25
46
Not everyone can afford to go to Cyprus (Plane ticket, hotel, living expenses etc...). I agree that we have a lot of problem like no electricity, no jobs, no salaries etc..but why should we accept denying us this basic human right issue that doesn't cost the government any money to fix??? the Church and Mosque will lose a lot of money and that's their real objection...time for complete separation of state and clergy...
06 February 2013, 15:06
26
All issues are essential, the lebanese people should go after all issues, not just the most important ones, especially given that the most important issues are the hardest to solve and we shouldn't be expected to wait for all important issues to be solved for the smaller issues, FlameThrower, throw yourself with your usual retardes comments
06 February 2013, 15:11
03
I love God and His religions but I do hate clergy. They are the worst kind of merchants. Civil marriage is taking business away from them. They use and abuse God, their unique selling proposition.
Solve this problem and all the other problems will be solved. Yes to a regular state, and no to a secular state.
06 February 2013, 15:55
12
yes they must complement it in religious ceremony because actually they dont care about unifying the Nation they care about earning cash thrue ceremonies so they can pay some kids and have an affair those pervert pedophiles!!!
06 February 2013, 15:58
04
well if you advocate a civil society, like i thought you usually do in other posts, then that is a pretty good first step towards that goal.
like allouchi said, it wont cost the government anything. it will actually bring in money as you will have to pay court and municipality charges and whatever else they can think of.
it will also weaken the religious establishment that has a choke-hold on the country, which in turn could move politics themselves toward a more secular environment.
06 February 2013, 17:04
01
im not sying you dont. im just saying that putting the issue at the bottom of the list and saying we should do the others first is counter productive.
again, this is a measure that will cost nothing, bring in money, and reduce religious hegemony in the country.
for once everyone is on the same page and appalled by the same thing. take the chance, before the other issues you mentioned become so grave that people indeed decide to put it on the back-burner.
right now, any achievement the lebanese society can get, they should go for it. we have everything we need to make a great country, but absolutely nothing to show for it
06 February 2013, 17:35
33
FT= fake on secularism.
just scratch his skin and all the secularism appears :)
06 February 2013, 16:33
12
@FT,
Challenging the law on civil marriage would move this country away from sectarianism and allow us to better address our basic issues.
The further we are from secularism, the harder it is for our state to function effectively.
06 February 2013, 22:11
10
M8 gvt didn t do much to improve the quality of life... busy they are to save their a...!
06 February 2013, 16:34
03
Someone tell these bishops they have no right to tell other individuals how they should marry. Those that want a religious ceremony, then do it, and those that do not want it don't have to do it.
The state should stay out of our bedrooms.
06 February 2013, 16:39
00
Les religieux doivent naturellement plaider pour le mariage religieux. c'est normal, le contraire seraient complètement absurde. d'autre part la liberté comme droit acquis par tous les citoyens, et le statut de regime laique qui sépare l'état de la religion doit laisser le choix aux jeunes de decider si suivre ou non la recomondation de l'eglise.
06 February 2013, 16:47
03
Those who Marry in Civil Union Must Complement it with Religious Ceremony: these mafiosi gangs do not represent the church. Those gangster disguised with Jesus Christ dress do not want only civil marriage so they can still keep the wedding and divorce business that bring them MILLIONS & Millions $$$$$ every year. But the problem these million of $ are going straight to their pocket, to their cars, their cigars. No one wonder how every clerics drive the last mercedes with chauffeur. and then when a simple student who can't afford the money to continue it studying year, get kicked out the next day. Unfortunatly this mafiosi gang are worst then our politicians
06 February 2013, 16:49
02
Forgot to add that the student that got kicked out was at the university of kaslik and another one from Antoura. woule tfouuuuuuu at those clercics disguised in Jesus Christ. Jesus must be disgusted of what he left behind
06 February 2013, 16:51
00
civil marriage lays the question of the civil status that is inexistant in lebanon
why aren't we equal as lebanese in marriage, divorce, birth and inheritance. its time to stop all that
06 February 2013, 17:09
03
That's three for three against civil marriage, and it is apparent it is about the money. If they want to dispense with that theory, they should come out with a policy that either limits the money that a clergyman can receive, or better yet, eliminate any funds changing hands.
Not one sect is better than another in this regard. It is apparent they want to control and meddle in all aspects of Lebanese society.
07 February 2013, 09:54
00
and then why do they say that they need to have a religious ceremony also? They are throwing a bone to keep their power--nothing more. You have to learn how to interpret things when money is involved.
"Marriage is a holy union however and civil marriage should not replace the religious one,” said the council." This statement kills what altruism you may have gotten from the article.
07 February 2013, 12:44
00
Read again dude--second paragraph, they use the word MUST.
“Those who marry in a civil union MUST complement it was a religious ceremony.”
To me, that doesn't suggest an option and my 'throwing them a bone' comment is right on. It should be either a religious ceremony, a civil one, or both---give the people the option, not the clergy.
06 February 2013, 18:04
00
OF TOPIC, actually my issue in this article is the spelling mistakes the author made in this article, he needs to go back to school or use spell check. :-) p.s: regarding civil or other type of marriage, i think its upto every individual to make that decision , not the government or the religious figures .point finale lol
06 February 2013, 18:26
13
Flamer- if civil marriage is not important to YOU, it does not make it any less important to the LEABNESE people. Your opinion is noted but the idea here (which you will never understand) is basic human rights are that you are of free mind and spirit to be able to be with someone you love withouth having to bow down to any religious institution. Civil marriage is about human freedom.
try this on for size and see if it fits. "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"`Evelyn Beatrice Hall
when you truly understand the profound meaning of that statement then and onl then can you start to understand how to help move the country in the right direction. starting with at least not discounting people rights on who and how they want get married and maybe, just maybe, you can realize how terrible the orthodox law is.
06 February 2013, 22:09
10
lol FT claiming he is secular and ask those who want civil marriage to go to cyprus and shut up! waw, secular indeed the little sectarian FPMer....
06 February 2013, 22:15
10
"They said ok u can have a civil marriage, but you should also complement it with a religious one. "
they say "must" not should! forcing people to have a religious marriage.
family laws must be secular and civil! heritage, divorce should not depend on the religion but on a civil law equal to all...
but of course it would weaken the power of the religious people so none will accept it!
07 February 2013, 00:38
00
Tayyeb layko? I have a compromise: those who choose to go for a civil marriage pay a tax that goes to the different religious authorities. This way the religious authorities get the money that they lost on due to the civil marriage ou bi 7éllo 3an rabbna.
