Gay couples could soon be allowed to “marry” in church after a decision by Anglican bishops and other clergy to support a relaxation of the ban.
Senior bishops in the Lords have told The Times that they will support an amendment to the Equality Bill next month that will lift the ban on civil partnership ceremonies in religious premises. The amendment would remove the legislative prohibition on blessings of homosexual couples and open the door to the registration of civil partnerships in churches, synagogues, mosques and all other religious premises.
In a letter to The Times a group of Church of England clerics say today that religious denominations should be allowed to register civil partnerships on their premises if they wish.
So why would any clergy want to be involved in a civil partnership ceremony? To start with, there is no such ceremony in either the BCP, or Common Worship! If the marriage service is to be used, then it surely ceases to be a civil partnership. Civil partnerships were created to give those who did not wish to marry, an alternative under civil law which bestowed a number of privileges previously only available to married couples.
The C of E is in the toilet and just begging someone to pull the chain. Better the evangelicals just leave out one door and the Catholics out another.
Actually Fr. J. we are a majority of churchgoers and are not going anywhere. This is a few liberal malcontents at the top trying to stick their oar in with a government that only probably has 3 remaining months in office, and is desperately trying to get stuff through before we throw them out at the general election.
Unfortunately the next government will back this as well
#4 Interesting article colorfully expressed in the Telegraph which suggests that although Brown may be out, Cameron may not have a useful majority unless he takes account of the significant Christian vote.
How that will shake out I have no idea.