Britain's Equality Bill

[Usbek_de_Perse]

If you think we have problems, imagine those in Britain, and especially the Church of England. Oddly the Roman Catholic Church is rather mute.

timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2010/03/secularists-win-right-to-have-gay-weddings-in-churches-synagogues.html#more

 

[Scottishguy]

So because everyone can be treated equal and have the same rights as anyone else, this a probem…funny I see it as a good thing

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

It actually takes away the rights of Catholics to teach what they believe to be true and to live accordingly. In fact when you get down to it it makes Christianity illegal, as the law will now force us to give our blessing to these ceremonies or face punishment.

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

Whether or not it is a good thing, it is a problem when houses of worship can be required to host partnership ceremonies that are against their teachings and law.

It is one thing to offer civil partnerships, it is quite another to attempt to make religions buckle under and offer the ceremonies.

So because everyone can be treated equal and have the same rights as anyone else, this a probem…funny I see it as a good thing

 

[rossum]

It actually takes away the rights of Catholics to teach what they believe to be true and to live accordingly. In fact when you get down to it it makes Christianity illegal, as the law will now force us to give our blessing to these ceremonies or face punishment.

Current UK law says that all Churches are forbidden to offer Civil Partnership ceremonies, they have to be held at non-religious venues.

These changes allow churches to provide such ceremonies if they wish. I would imagine that the MCC would want to while the Catholic Church would not. It is highly unlikely that churches will be forced to offer Civil Partnership ceremonies.

rossum

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

Current UK law says that all Churches are forbidden to offer Civil Partnership ceremonies, they have to be held at non-religious venues.

These changes allow churches to provide such ceremonies if they wish. I would imagine that the MCC would want to while the Catholic Church would not. It is highly unlikely that churches will be forced to offer Civil Partnership ceremonies.

rossum

There is another law that makes it illegal to refuse someone access to your services based on their sexual preference. The change you mention combined with that law which is already in place will make it illegal for churches to refuse them, or at least will lead to court cases claiming that. Because they are classed as different to marriages we may or may not still be able to refuse, time will tell.

 

[rossum]

There is another law that makes it illegal to refuse someone access to your services based on their sexual preference. The change you mention combined with that law which is already in place will make it illegal for churches to refuse them, or at least will lead to court cases claiming that. Because they are classed as different to marriages we may or may not still be able to refuse, time will tell.

Churches are already excused from equality law in many cases; yhe Catholic Church is legally allowed to refuse to ordain women as priests. I strongly suspect that the new law will make it clear that Churches, Synagogues, Mosques etc. may either allow or forbid Civil Partnership ceremonies. The UK equality laws already have religious exceptions built into them and I can see no reason why the Government would seek to stir up unnecessary trouble by not doing the same thing over this question.

rossum