Posted on 11/01/2011 7:31:09 PM PDT by Steelfish
Gay Couples To Be Allowed Civil Ceremonies In Church Homosexual couples will be able to take part in civil partnerships in church and other places of worship from next month, it will be announced.
It is estimated that about 1,500 civil partnerships a year would take place in religious settings once the ban is lifted. By Andrew Porter, and Martin Beckford 01 Nov 2011
Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, will say that the ban on the ceremonies in religious surroundings will be lifted on Dec 5. The move has been championed by David Cameron but is likely to be opposed by some church groups.
The scheme will be voluntary with no church compelled to offer same-sex services. However, it is likely that some campaigners will seek to push the matter further if churches refuse to open their doors to gay couples. It is estimated that about 1,500 civil partnerships a year would take place in religious settings once the ban is lifted. There are currently about 5,500 civil partnerships taking place every year.
Liberal Jewish groups, Quakers and other minor Christian organisations have lobbied for the right to host civil partnerships with religious readings and hymns. However, the Church of England has warned that it would not bless same-sex couples. The speed at which the proposals are being introduced is likely to cause concern among Anglicans.
Although some in the state religion support same-sex unions, the official position remains that clergy are not allowed to bless the events.
When it was first proposed that the ceremonies could take place on religious premises, the Rt Rev David James, then the Bishop of Bradford, warned in the House of Lords that it would blur the distinction with marriage.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
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What’s next? Priests giving you a driver’s test and then signing off on your driver’s license?
Western Civilization is about to assume room temperature.
Why have a candlestick if you cease to be a source of light?
“The scheme will be voluntary with no church compelled to offer same-sex services”
Gee, how long before the Church of England caves? We should start a pool.
I say 24 months.
Forcing a private institution to do something against it’s charter in the name of political correctness is just plain wrong.
Give them the right ... give them the rope to hang themselves. When they stand before G-d, they will have no excuse.
Wait for the Mooze Lames to start raising hell over having to recognize as "married" a couple of queers. Especially since they go to such great lengths to hide how queer prostitutes are so common in Mooze Lame countries that they're almost hanging from the rafters in every hotel and restaurant. Having openly queer couples around is going to get too many of the "faithful" turned on and the Imams know it. There will be violence over this, it's just a matter of when.
People these days are so stupid and so out of touch with Christ that they no longer realzie that God is not mocked and there's more than enough evil around he can cease to restrain when He's angry.
Civil ceremonies in church?
Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister?
Rom. 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
These "churches" will continue in their decline. Christians will leave them to assemble with other Christians. Except for the Christians everyone will pat themselves on their back for being so tolerant never seeing they are becoming more pagan every day.
I thought Albert Mohler had it right when he wrote to the effect that as we become more and more tolerant of what we have been told is wrong our understanding of our need for a Savior diminishes. I see these stories and can't help but think we are becoming more like Babylon every day.
“Forcing a private institution to do something against its charter in the name of political correctness is just plain wrong.”
Yes, and official tolerance of sodomite play-pretend “marriage” is just plain wrong.
(I keep hoping the term “sodomite play-pretend marriage” will catch on, but I guess it’s just too long.)
And this “voluntary” policy will become mandatory in 3 - 2 - 1
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Equalities minister - so Orwellian. Really means "Pervert Promoting Agency". Bad bad. How will this end? I don't think easily, but it will end. Be prepared, all hands on deck at some point.
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