By Jason Groves and Steve Doughty
|
David Cameron’s promise to protect churches from gay marriage laws could hit legal hurdles, a justice minister admitted yesterday.
Crispin Blunt said it would be hard to guarantee that clergy would not face court challenges if they refused to preside over same-sex unions.
‘We’re seeking to protect, indeed, proscribe religious organisations from offering gay marriage,’ said Mr Blunt, who announced two years ago that he is gay.
Crispin Blunt said it would be difficult to guarantee that clergy would not face court challenges if they refused to preside over gay marriages
‘That may be problematic legally, but the proposal the Government are putting forward is that marriage should be equal in the eyes of the state whether it’s between a same-sex couple or between a man and a woman. We’ll have to see what happens with that.’
Mr Blunt’s comments appear to undermine reassurances from both Downing Street and Home Secretary Theresa May yesterday that churches will not be affected by the law.
The remarks will be seized on by critics who insist that legalising gay marriage will eventually force bishops to accept same-sex marriages.
Government ministers yesterday insisted the controversial change would go ahead by 2015, despite a ferocious backlash that saw the Roman Catholic Church join the Church of England in condemning the move.
Catholic leaders told ministers that they do not believe Coalition guarantees of protection.
David Cameron is likely to face a tricky balancing act in the ongoing debate over gay marriage
The European Court of Human Rights is likely to overturn the promised safeguards meant to assure churches they will never have to conduct gay weddings, they said. The statements came in a fiercely-worded response to the consultation on same-sex marriage that is due to end tomorrow.
The Church of England has already said the safeguards will not hold under the scrutiny of the European court and that the 500-year-old ties between the Anglicans and the state are under threat.
It warned it was very doubtful whether limiting same-sex couples to non-religious ceremonies would withstand a challenge at the court.
The European Court of Human Rights is likely to overturn assurances given to the church they will not have to conduct gay marriage ceremonies
A successful legal challenge could make it impossible for the Church to continue its role conducting marriages on behalf of the state, it said.
Other faith leaders have joined the condemnation. Muslims have launched a Muslims Defending Marriage campaign against the reforms.
Farooq Murad of the Muslim Council of Britain said: ‘We have a duty to defend the meaning of marriage, guard its sanctity and protect the welfare of children.’
Supporters of gay marriage yesterday accused bishops of orchestrating a ‘masterclass in melodramatic scaremongering’.
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay rights group Stonewall, said polls suggested 80 per cent of people aged under 50 supported the change in the marriage law.
Former Labour culture secretary Ben Bradshaw warned that the Church of England was jeopardising its position as the established religion.
Mr Bradshaw, who is in a civil partnership, said: â €˜I’m very disappointed as a committed Anglican with the Church of England’s stance.
‘Many people of faith, Christians and other faiths, want equality for lesbian and gay people and many Anglicans do. I’m afraid the Church is once again putting itself on the wrong side of history just as it did over women and over race.’
Mrs May yesterday insisted clergy would not be forced to host same-sex marriages against their conscience. ‘What we’re saying is that we want to ensure we can put into place a framework that makes sure that those people who don’t want to host same sex marriages are not required to do so,’ she added.
Christian campaigners from the Coalition for Marriage handed to Downing Street a petition against the reforms containing 550,000 signatures yesterday.
Same-sex marriage is legal in seven European countries: Spain, Sweden, Holland, Portugal, Norway, Belgium and Iceland. It will soon come into law in Denmark.
Elsewhere, it is legal in Canada, Argentina, South Africa and some states in the US.
-
Pictured in hospital: Miami cannibal victim 'awake, alert... -
'I am just ill, I am not a monster': Chinese mother-of-two... -
Airline offers passengers luxury private suites complete... -
Father 'beat man to death after catching him molesting his... -
May the force be with you: Volkswagen's 7-year-old Darth... -
Awkward family photos, the 80s edition: When disco and the... -
Casey speaks out: Anthony admits she is 'ashamed' of who she... -
'If you need me I'll be there': George HW Bush moved to... -
Married teacher accused of having sex with four students... -
White steel interior, floating walkways and a stone... -
'You molested me!': Footage shows the moment woman freaks... -
Everybody WAS kung fu fighting: Extraordinary moment 10,000...
Share this article:
Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
The comments below have been moderated in advance.
- Newest
- Oldest
- Best rated
- Worst rated
Mr Cameron, you should really have a good think about this
Report abuse
Marriage equals 1 man and 1 woman no other combinations or amounts qualify.
Report abuse
With every passing day we learn of something else Cameron "cannot do"................ And yet, like all such people, when campaigning for election he was full of what he WOULD do................. What will be the next thing he admits he "cannot do"......... Tie his shoelaces..........? Walk upright............? GOVERN...................?
Report abuse
i don't care what sexual preferance people have - but i do care about making a mockery of the christain faith by trying to force our priests/bishops to marry two men! enough, now!
Report abuse
Marriage,definition of : bloke and woman !!! Sorry for the sensitivities of anyone who falls outside these parameters but that's life. I believe that church is hugely flawed as it stands so this won't help.
Report abuse
The whole point of Marriage apart from life long companionship is having Children and family life, It is the bedrock of our culture and Society. Without Science same sex couples cannot have Children and even if they have Children will these children not always wonder who there real mother or father was. As the old joke goes your father was test tube and your mother was a petri dish We may be opening Pandora's box which will have unforeseen circumstances for Society
Report abuse
Good old Crispin. The man who made sure he was elected before he left his wife and children and announced he was gay to the electorate of Reigate and Banstead. I would like to say we are proud to have someone of such courage and principle as our MP but I would not be telling the truth! At a time of such economic crisis and hardship I wonder why the Westminster elite spend so much time on this. I am sure most of the British people who do not live in London could not give a proverbial monkeys and would much rather our leaders were trying to sort out defence, unemployment etc.
Report abuse
A good deal of bunk being spoken here over the history of the CofE. The CofE is a reformed Church (not RC) and who ever was King or Queen at the time would have had to recognise the desire for Biblical truth within the Church and to ditch the corruption that was then the RC Church. Henry XIII died a good RC as history tells us, he did not accept the new revealed truth of the Reformation and he just corrupted everything he touched for his own perverse aims. The CofE is right to hold on to Biblical truth, without doing so it fails to be a Church - the Government, the Liberals, the non-Christians can do and say what they like but they cannot ever re-write Holy Scripture nor can they ignore the clear message within the New Testament concerning same sex relationships.
Report abuse
Please explain, why in a democratic society the majority now have to suffer by pandering up to minorities ? I do not care if a person is gay or not, that is their own preference, but I do get annoyed over a lot of gays I have met who expect us to be tolerant to their outlook, but who are not tolerant to anyone else's view point. Also during these bad times the country is going through, should not the government be spending more time on repairing this country than debating if gays should be allowed to marry in church? This country is becoming a laughing stock.
Report abuse
The chief executive of stonewall said 80% polled are in favour, he must have meant poll of the gay people probably, but if a poll is taken from christians, he will find 80% will be against the proposal. - mari, london, 13/6/2012 10:19-----------------------------Just to be clear I presume that will be the 80% of christians who don't ever attend church as opposed to the 15% who do.
Report abuse
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar