Ireland threatens to stop funding Christian counselors unless they accept gay couples

Marriage counseling agencies across Ireland are at risk of losing state funding unless they adhere to a new government policy that would require them to accept same-sex couples.

Tusla, the government's childcare agency, has declared that any agency that receives state funding must make its services "accessible to everyone," Catholic Herald reported citing The Times.

Several state-funded counseling services have reportedly received a new agreement, stating that they cannot discriminate against people on grounds including sexuality if they want to continue receiving taxpayer money.

Accord, one of the agencies that received the agreement, had received £1.4 million (US$1.97) and could potentially close if the government decides to withdraw its funding.

The agency, which is operated by the Catholic Church in Ireland, offers marriage preparation courses and counseling, but it has long-excluded same-sex couples on religious grounds.

In 2015, Accord lost €378,000 (US$467,640) in state funding for pre-marriage courses, sparking concerns that Catholic agencies that do not support same-sex marriage will be deprived of funding.

The decision drew controversy at the time as it had coincided with the same-sex marriage referendum.

The government, however, denied that the cut in funding was due to the Church's opposition to same-sex marriage.

"We're in the midst of a campaign, people will try and draw on everything they can into the campaign. That decision made by Tusla, signed off on by their board has absolutely nothing to do with this referendum," Minister for Children, Dr. James Reilly, said at the time.

"It has to do with the fact that they're reforming the system, and focusing their resources on the areas that they have direct legislative responsibility for which is child protection," he added.

Tusla also refuted claims that the move was part of a wider government policy to withdraw financial support for Catholic Church agencies.

Gordon Jeyes, who serves as the chief executive of the childcare agency, contended that the funding for Accord was cut so that the agency would stay within budget.

"We have a level of budget which had been increased by Government but was still over €80 million short than our expenditure last year... and we have to prioritise. The days of just taking a little off everybody was not working," he said.

Jeyes went on to note that Tusla was still investing €1.6 million (US$1.98 million) in Accord during that time.

In England and Wales, the bishops' marriage counseling agency, Marriage Care, already provides services for same-sex couples as part of its general counseling service that is separate from its Catholic marriage preparation. Between 2014 and 2015, the agency has received over £850,000 (US$1,193,969) from national government contracts.