British Same-Sex Couples Allowed To Host Civil Unions In Churches, But Anglicans Refute Ruling

By AL WEBB
Religion News Service

LONDON (RNS) The British government said Wednesday (Nov. 2) that same-sex couples will be allowed for the first time to use churches to seal their civil partnership vows, starting in December.

But the directive added that no religious group will be forced to conduct or host such a ceremony, and the Church of England quickly announced it would permit no such rites on its premises.

In a statement, the church said it "has no intention of allowing civil partnerships to be registered" in its churches.

The government's equalities minister, Lynne Featherstone, used a written statement to Parliament to announce that same-sex couples will be allowed to seal their vows in churches and other places of worship in England and Wales starting on Dec. 5.

Civil partnership registrations have been entirely secular in Britain.

"The government is advancing equality for LGB (lesbian, gay and bisexual) people and ensuring freedom of religion for people of all faiths," Featherstone said. But she added that "no religious group will be forced to host a civil partnership registration."

Same-sex marriages are banned in Britain, but same-sex civil partnerships have been allowed since 2005. The partnerships give gay and lesbian couples the same legal protections accorded to heterosexual married couples.

Partnership ceremonies will most certainly be banned in Catholic churches, as well as mosques and Orthodox synagogues. The BBC reported that "leaders of Liberal Judaism, the Quakers and the Unitarians have in the past expressed interest" in hosting same-sex ceremonies.

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Comments

[yevsek hunter]

12:27 AM on 11/06/2011

The western world is involved in a growing civil war between Christians, and the prophesied, End Times Anti-Christ. And it is a war that will end with the complete destruction of one side or the other, because the two sides are completely irreconcilable. This Anti-Christ is an opposing religious ideology. It has manifest itself as MarxISM - SecularISM - AtheISM - Secular Humanism. It is a war between two of the most famous Jews in history, over who will rule the hearts and minds of mankind, Jesus Christ, or Karl Marx - The Jewish Christ, or the Jewish Anti-Christ.

[bmcombs]

06:00 PM on 11/08/2011

Seek professional psychological help please.

[yevsek hunter]

03:00 AM on 11/09/2011

Dear bmcombs, How would you describe our "culture war"? Is it not between "secularISM and Christianity? Please give us your take on this conflict.

[Dirk1]

06:59 PM on 11/03/2011

And what the haters running the Anglican church think matters, why?
No gay or lesbian would want anything to do with their hateful church, anyway.

[StevenKeirstead]

01:51 PM on 11/03/2011

Shouldn't the headline use the verb "refuse" not "refute?"

[Joseph Mustich]

11:16 AM on 11/03/2011

Onward to ful civil and marriage equality rights now....

And in the mean time hang the war mongers and wall st banksters...

http://www.occupywallst.org

[rockysparks]

04:51 AM on 11/03/2011

This decision is a good thing or at least a good step forward.

[Trekkiefandom]

12:21 AM on 11/03/2011

Hey guys, sorry to tell you but if you constantly harass someone and call their live sin and other bad names, they won't becoming to you to get married.

[QuakerJewish]

10:27 PM on 11/02/2011

Kick the Anglicans out.

[QuakerJewish]

10:37 AM on 11/03/2011

Note: The Anglican Church is a state religion that does not own the buildings. They belong to the state.

[lambdin1]

06:01 PM on 11/02/2011

So what?!? Have the ceremony outdoors. Religion is one reason I'm a Wiccan. Yes I'm a witch. A bitchy witch! Boo! What is important is that you love one another!

[Gottlieb]

04:08 PM on 11/02/2011

How can the official church of England refuse the orders of their political masters? I thought Henry VIII settled who makes the religious rules in England.