Bishop Kevin Doran also said that lesbian/gay couples aren’t parents. We all know he means that at least one is not the biological father or mother and that the role of either a father or a mother is deliberately excluded.

While being interviewed on Newstalk radio (09.02.2015) Bishop Kevin Doran certainly gave the proponents of same sex marriage #SSM quite a few sound-bites to run with!

Later that day on Twitter I was asked by @NORTHANNE: “Do you think comparing homosexuals with those suffering an affliction like Down syndrome and Spina bifida is acceptable?”

On first reading such a comparison does seem unacceptable. But let’s place the bishop’s comments in context. Bishop Doran is not making a direct comparison between homosexuality and Down syndrome or Spina bifida but rather stating the Christian belief that not everything that occurs in natural life is attributed to God’s direct design.

So the question arises then; where does the homosexual orientation come from? For the Church this is the critical point. If the homosexual orientation is by God’s direct design then the Church is wrong in her teaching about homosexuality, plain and simple. In fact, we should all be advocating a yes vote in the marriage referendum. On the other hand, if the orientation is not by God’s direct design then where does it come from? Is it one of the many variations of natural life that we do not attribute to God’s direct design?

Bishop Doran made the point that we don’t know; the words he used were “the jury is out on it.” Bishop Doran could have added; we’re still waiting on science to give us the definitive answer. But whatever the answer when it comes, one thing is certain, revelation can’t contradict the truths of science!

Here’s a link to Jack Quann’s coverage of the interview including audio links: http://www.newstalk.com/Bishop-of-Elphin-Kevin-Doran-gay-marriage-Newstalk-Breakfast-same-sex-marriage