Posted on 09/06/2011 6:43:10 AM PDT by marshmallow
Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove, has called for churches to be banned from holding marriages if they refuse to perform civil partnerships for gay couples.
He says that the idea will bring more equality for gay couples.
In a letter (see below) to prime minister David Cameron, Mr Weatherley wrote: “As long as religious groups can refuse to preside over ceremonies for same-sex couples there will be inequality.
“Such behaviour is not be tolerated in other areas, such as adoption, after all.
“Until we untangle unions and religion in this country we will struggle to find a fair arrangement.”
Mr Weatherley said that 2005′s Civil Partnership Act was an “uneasy truce” between religious groups and gay rights campaigners and that lawmakers knew an “inherent inequality” would persist.
Hove, which neighbours Brighton, has a large gay community. The area has one of the highest rates of civil partnerships.
Ministers say they plan to move forward legislation to allow civil partnerships in religious buildings.
However, the amendment in the Equality Act stresses that the choice is down to churches. While the Unitarian Church and the Quakers as well as Liberal and Reform Judaism want to hold ceremonies for gay couples, the Catholic Church and Church of England say they will not.
(Excerpt) Read more at pinknews.co.uk ...
“Gay couples.” LOL! Isn’t that cute?
Great Britain is no more. Now, it’s Mediocre Britain.
This has always been the goal for the gay activists. If anyone has any questions as to why gay marriage is so important to gays?
This is your answer. Destroying religion has always been top priority.
If the queen doesn’t step in and reinstitute an absolute monarchy......Britain is done.
What exactly are the Tories committed to “conserving”? Evidently the MP for Howe thinks it’s nothing other than their seats in Parliament. Maybe it’s not just Scotland that needs a new center-right party.
That’s one queen they won’t take orders from.
And here I thought Brighton was the gay capital and Hove was sleepy!
And now we see the advantage of the separation of church and state. I guess this means the muzzies will be exempt.
Unfair arrangement for the churches. They lose their right to practice what they believe.
IF the poop ever hits the fan, the homos will be the first to go. Forcing people to think and act contrary to their conscience creates hate.
Tory MP weeps over discovery that his Brazilian wife is £70-a-time suburban prostitute
Which Queen, Sounds like there are thousands of them, and they appear to have the upper hand.
This BS will only drive Church’s underground like in the Roman days after they crucified Christ.People will get married in a secret ceremony.
The homos here in the U.S. will not rest until there is a law prohibiting churches from “discriminating” against homos.
I guess its back to the back rooms and catacombs.
One tory MP who represents just about the gayest constituency in England covering his own arse and electorate. . . . .
Why are Freepers always so desperate to tar all of England with the Brush of just one idiot? Maybe us Brits should start judging America purely by the actions of Obama and see if it’s similarly helpful?
Ouch!
Mr Weatherley used the word “religious groups.” Which means mosques, too. Let the fun begin. Actually I am not sure that Muslims marry in the mosque, but an imam does perform the ceremony.
Good point. Please don't judge us because of Oboma. It was just a fluke.
Let me get this right. The government licenses marriage, which can take place anywhere.
The church, once a marriage certificate is issued, holds a worship ceremony for the couple (a religious ceremony..blessing the couples union).
The government now says that the church “must” allow a religious blessing ceremony for a homosexual or lesbian partnership, or they cannot hold any weddings.
So the government is dictating beliefs to the church. Of course this is Great Britain where the head of the church is the queen.
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