Posted on 02/24/2010 8:30:30 AM PST by NYer
A group of senior clerics, including the Bishop of Salisbury, the Dean of Southwark and four retired bishops, wrote in a letter to The Times today that religious denominations should be allowed to choose whether to register civil partnerships on their premises.
"Straight couples have the choice between civil marriage and religious marriage. Gay couples are denied a similar choice. To deny people of faith the opportunity of registering the most important promise of their lives in their willing church or synagogue, according to its liturgy, is plainly discriminatory," they wrote.
The Lords amendment to the Equality Bill is likely to be tabled in the next few days by Lord Alli, the openly homosexual Labour peer.
It is likely to be backed by the Conservatives and the Bishop of Leicester, the Right Rev Timothy Stevens, who convenes the 26 bishops in the House.
The amendment would remove the bar on religious premises and religious language being used for same-sex blessings under the Civil Partnership Act 2004.
It would also increase pressure on the established Church to take a more liberal line on same-sex relationships and widen the split over homosexual blessings and ordination in the Anglican Communion.
The Church of England will maintain its official ban on same-sex blessings, but this could be ignored by some clergy if the legislative prohibition is lifted.
The Government has yet to decide whether to back the amendment. Ministers are keen to avoid another confrontation with church leaders after being forced to back down over the employment of homosexual staff in religious organisations following a recent intervention by the Pope.
“Some faith organisations are calling for the right to hold civil ceremonies in religious places, so it’s right that we discuss this with them.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Slippery slope alert!
More of the sinister effects of liberation theology and the emergent progressive church.
For years The Episcopal Church was described as “the most conservative congregation, led by the most liberal clergy”. Now they are wondering why the congregations continue to shrink.
Idiots!
Well of course they do, silly.
And the Anglicans wonder why three bishops and 500 parishes have petitioned Rome for entrance to the Catholic Church!
“Straight couples have the choice between civil marriage and religious marriage.”
To these folks, gubberment permission is just as important and valid as what their faith says about marriage.
Freegards
Have the guys who wrote this read what Jesus said and what Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, and Paul wrote?
I mean what are they waiting for? Sodomy during the Offertory?
Do they seriously believe they can just ignore all this malarkey as long as their own little corner of Anglicanism has found some way not to deal with the local lesbian bishop?
Their God IS the government.
To them “religion” is about feeling good. It’s just another form of entertainment.
They’re just continuing their slide toward religious irrelevance.
Agreed. But more and more as a society you feel God has "given us up to...." as described in the downward spiral of Romans 1.
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