News - In a letter to The Times, several religious figures including Bishops, Deans and Professors have argued that gay couples should be allowed to get married in church, with full and equal rights to that of heterosexuals.
Liberal Judaism, The Quakers and Unitarians have already decided that they will allow same sex marriage in their premises, should the amendment to the Equality Bill go through. But this was opposed by the Bishops of Winchester and Chichester when it was debated in the House of Lords on 25th January.
In their letter, the liberal clergy say: "In the same debate, the bishops were crucial in defeating government proposals to limit the space within which religious bodies are exempt from anti-discrimination law. They see that as a fundamental matter of conscience. But it is inconsistent to affirm the spiritual independence of the Church of England and simultaneously to deny the spiritual independence of the three small communities who seek this change for themselves (and not for anybody else).
The bishops' "slippery slope" argument is invalid. 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."
The Bill will be re-presented to the Lords on 2nd March, by Lord Waheed Ali.
